Real Love clear Adelaide Cup favourite after Signoff scratching

Perth Cup winner Real Love is the clear favourite for the Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville today following the scratching of stablemate Signoff.

Real Love is the clear favourite for the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Real Love is the clear favourite for the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Before Signoff came out on Saturday morning, the Darren Weir trained stayer was at the top of the market order at $2.05, just ahead of Real Love at $3.50.

But now with Signoff out of the field, Real Love is the dominant favourite at $2 with the Aaron Purcell trained Swacadelic the closest in the betting at $8.

Weir had no choice but to scratch Signoff after he developed a temperature on Saturday morning and the six year old’s Autumn Carnival campaign could now be redirected to the Spring.

“I knew something wasn’t right when he left a dipper of feed this morning, which he never does,” Weir told The Advertiser.

“We took his temperature and it came back at 38.9C.

“We could have waited for another 24 hours but he’d have had to travel first thing tomorrow (Sunday) … and it’s just not worth the risk.

“I’d much rather have two in it than one. It’s not ideal but what can you do?”

Weir still has a great chance to win his first Adelaide Cup with proven stayer Real Love who won the 2015 Group 2 $500,000 Golden River Developments Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot and backed up again this year with a third behind Delicacy and Neverland.

Real Love heads to Morphettville on the back of a win in the Listed $120,000 3AW Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington on March 5 and Weir said the mare is spot on for the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup.

“I would think that would have her spot on for Adelaide. The two mile won’t be a problem the way she ran through the line there,” Weir said.

“Each run she’s progressed really well, she’s come on at home with her training as well.”

Real Love was formerly prepared by Perth trainer Adam Durrant and was having her third start for Weir when she won the Roy Higgins Quality at Flemington with Brad Rawiller in the saddle.

Rawiller will again be aboard Real Love who will jump from barrier eleven in the seventeen horse Adelaide Cup field.

Swacadelic is also coming off a last start win when he beat Signoff and Real Love in the Listed $150,000 Sporting Chance Cancer Foundatio0n Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on February 19.

 Adelaide Cup market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2 Real Love, $8 Swacadelic, $10 $1o Up Cups, $12 Last Wish, Jim’s Journey, $14 Lucques, $18 Gamblin’ Guru, $21 Like A Carousel, $26 Tidy Prophet, Wales, Kushadasi, $34 Purple Smile, $41 Celtic Prince, $51 Go Dreaming, Tunes, $126 Distillation, Gallatin.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.