Renew’s form not a real guide for Adelaide Cup

Trainer Archie Alexander is warning punters to discard the paper form of Renew when assessing his chances in the Group 2 $400,000 Tattsbet Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on Monday.

Jockey Chris Symons and Renew, above, will team up again in the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Jockey Chris Symons and Renew, above, will team up again in the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.

Ballarat based Alexander has only given Renew two lead up runs in preparation for the two mile staying test but is confident the Dansili five year old will be fit enough to figure in the finish.

“When you look at his two runs this prep, they look pretty poor on paper,” Alexander told The Advertiser.

“He was last at Flemington when he was pretty rusty, but he wasn’t beaten far last run.’’

Alexander opted to miss the Group 3 $115,000 James Boags Premium Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville on February 28, the traditional Adelaide Cup lead up, and instead took Renew to Bendigo for a solid 2000m hit out.

“He’s been away (from home) for one serious gallop,’’ Alexander said.

“We went to Bendigo for a track gallop. We replicated a Lord Reims — rather than come to Adelaide — as best we can.

“He galloped over 2000m. It was a handy piece of work and he’s just ticked over since.’’

“He’s come along a lot since Moonee Valley and again since the Bendigo gallop.”

Two of the top Adelaide Cup fancies fought out the finish of the Lord Reims Stakes with Taiyoo making it five wins on the trot holding out Lucky Lucky Lucky in a slogging finish.

“I thought the first two horses had quite a hard race,” Alexander said.

“Tony McEvoy’s horse (Lucky Lucky Lucky) ran really well and looks the horse to beat and Taiyoo is amazing. We don’t know where his limit is. You’d think his run must come to an end some time, (maybe) with 59kg over two miles.

“But, at the same time, I don’t think you can write him off. He just keeps fighting.

“He looked beaten the other day.’’

Jockey Chris Symons will again be aboard Renew after riding him at his last three starts including a win over the Adelaide Cup distance in the Listed $150,000 Sportingbet Sandown Cup at Sandown at the end of the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

The Pat Carey trained Luck’s A Fortune is the only other runner in the Adelaide Cup field that has won over the 3200m when he took out a BenchMark 84 at Sandown in March, 2014.

Symons should be able to give Renew a nice cosy run in the early and middle stages from barrier two before trying to look for the way clear approaching the home turn.

Even with 59kg and barrier fourteen, bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au have Taiyoo as the $3.50 favourite for the Adelaide Cup ahead of Lucky Lucky Lucky and Renew who share the second line of betting at $5.

The only other runner under double figures is the Peter Moody trained Crime Fighter ($7) who is coming off a second to Taiyoo in the Listed $150,000 ADAPT Australia Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on February 20.

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.