Trainer Walter McShane saw a twelve plan come to fruition to score his biggest win with Norsqui taking out the Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville today.
Norsqui (above) gaves trainer Walter McShane his biggest thrill in racing. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
McShane set his sights on this year’s Cup after Norsqui produced a good run in last year’s Adelaide Cup when third to Rialya and the Tasmania trainer produced a bigger and stronger stayer this time around.
“I’ve had some big thrills, but this is the biggest,” McShane said.
“He ran a very good race last year at the end of a preparation. This time we programmed him to come here to win it.”
“He had two good lead ups in the little cups at home, the Hobart and the Launceston.”
“They were good runs and topped him off for this.”
Norsqui has had three previous tries at 3200m with three placings and McShane’s plan was to try to put some extra weight on the six year old and build up his strength and the plan worked.
“He’s matured a little. I specifically set out to put a bit more weight on him, he was a very narrow horse, and I got another twenty kilos on him and its given him that little bit more strength.”
Jockey Chris Symons capped off a great comeback from a broken foot that saw him spend many months on the sideline to produce a top class ride to bring Norsqui ($26) with a well-timed run to cut down local hope Waratone ($15) close to the line to score by half a length with Dame Claire ($9.50) finishing hard for third.
Symons has worked hard on his riding style since returning to the saddle and is starting to reap the rewards which was evident by his winning ride on Norsqui.
“He ran a terrific race last year. Walter’s got him feeling terrific and he’s a lot more relaxed and that’s what made the difference today,” Symons said.
“I had a fair bit of horse under me, but I knew he wasn’t going to find a great deal.”
“I’ve just changed my riding a lot and I’m trying to keep them more balanced around the turn and actually Greg Eurell’s been helping me a lot with that, and I would like to thank him for that.”
Today’s win took Norsqui’s prizemoney to over $650,000 with eight wins from thirty-six starts.
Top Melbourne jockey Craig Williams gave favourite Kutchinsky ($5) a perfect run midfield and battled on fairly to finish fourth while $7 fancy Tuscan Fire crossed from a wide gate to set the pace but faded badly in the straight to finish last in the twenty horse field.
