Up Cups faces toughest test in Adelaide Cup

In-form Tasmanian stayer Up Cups will be facing his toughest test when he lines up in the Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on Monday.

Signoff, above, is the favourite for the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes.

Signoff, above, is the favourite for the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville. Photo by Jenny Barnes.

Up Cups is racing in outstanding form and is chasing his fifth win on the trot and heads to Adelaide after completing a Cups double with wins in the Group 3 $200,000 Hobart Cup (2400m) and the Group 3 $200,000 Launceston Cup (2400m).

Trained just outside of Hobart at Seven Mile Beach by David Brunton, Up Cups has surprised the stable with his quick rise through the staying ranks.

“He’s definitely come out of left-field,” Brunton told The Advertiser.

“Six or eight weeks ago you’d never have believed he could have won the Hobart and Launceston Cups. We’d never even contemplated it.”

“It’ll test him a bit on Monday but we’ll have a crack and see what happens.”

“Obviously it’s a big step up in grade to the Adelaide Cup but the race does thin out a bit after those top few.”

Up Cups has won over 2400m at his last two starts and will be stepping up to the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup for the first time and Brunton is confident his sires’ staying lines will help him get the distance.

“We’ll see how he handles Adelaide and how he handles two miles. It’ll be an interesting exercise. He’s by Helike and they are bred to run two miles,” Brunton said.

“He’s beaten everything they’ve thrown at him at home and he keeps stepping up.”

“I just hope he gets there in good order and he can run to his best.

“He’s a pretty brave horse. He’ll have a crack at them.

“If he can run first five, we’d be just rapt.”

Tasmania’s leading jockey David Pires has been aboard Up Cups for his last four wins and will be in the saddle again on Monday at Morphettville and is certain to give the gelding another perfect ride from barrier seven.

Up Cups is currently at the good odds of $19 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Adelaide Cup.

The Darren Weir trained pair of Signoff at $2.05 and Real Love at $$3.50 dominate the betting ahead of Swadadelic at $12, Last Wish at $15 and Jim’s Journey at $18.

 Adelaide Cup market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.05 Signoff, $3.50 Real Love, $12 Swacadelic, $15 Last Wish, $18 Jim’s Journey, $19 Up Cups, $21 Lucques, $31 Gamblin’ Guru, Tidy Prophet, $34 Like A Carousel, Wales, $41 Kushadasi, Purple Smile, $61 Go Dreaming, Tunes, $81 Celtic Prince, $151 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.