The Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Cup run over 3200m will be contested at Morphettville in Adelaide today and will be the main attraction on the nine race card. The Listed C S Hayes Memorial Cup over 1600m for the open class horses and the $200,000 Magic Millions Adelaide 2yo Classic for the juveniles over 1200m are also featuring on Adelaide Cup Day.

The in-form Lindsay Park Team have a great chance to win a second Feature Cup trophy in three days after they collected the major prize with $61 outsider Harlem in the  Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington last Saturday. The stable also completed the Group 1 double at Flemington with Redkirk Warrior winning back to back Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicaps (1200m) down the famous Flemington straight.

The Adelaide Cup favourite Fanatic as well as French import Al Harem and Raindrops On Roses all have strong claims for Lindsay Park.

We will keep you up to date on horseracing.com.au throughout Adelaide Cup Day with race by race results posted as they become available.

2018 Adelaide Cup Day Results at Morphettville

Race 1 (12:30pm) $60,000 BenchMark 82 Handicap (1050m)

Top Melbourne jockey Dwayne Dunn was able to steer El Sicario ($5.50) to victory in the BenchMark 82 Handicap and claim the first race on the card on Adelaide Cup Day. Third placegetter Tempting Faith ($17) went straight to the front and set a slick pace but after leading the field into the straight, wasn’t able to hold off the strong finish at the winner El Sicario and the $2.40 favourite Entrancing.

  • 1st – El Sicario
  • 2nd – Entrancing
  • 3rd – Tempting Faith 

 Race 2 (1:05pm) $60,000 Adelaide Festival Of Racing BenchMark 82 Handicap (2004m)

A patience ride from apprentice Chris Caserta saw Lieder overhaul the leaders in the straight to break a long run of outs in winning the BenchMark 82 Handicap over 2004m. Caserta sat back on Lieder while the two favourites Column ($3.80) and Ace Attack ($3.70) set the tempo up front. Column was first to crack under the pressure when Lieder ($5.50) appeared in the middle of the track. Runner up Sagaab ($12) tried to go with the winner while Ace Attack battled on well for third.

  • 1st – Lieder
  • 2nd – Sagaab
  • 3rd – Ace Attack 

Race 3 (1:40pm) $60,000 Darley Stallions 3yo Handicap (1200m)

Australian Cup winning jockey Michael Walker rode a confident race on the well supported Easy Beast to take out the Darley Stallion 3yo Handicap (1200m). Walker had Easy Beast ($3.60) sitting outside the leader and was ready to pounce in the straight and that he did and was able to hold off the fast finishing Over Exposure ($2 favourite). Jamie Kah had no luck on the favourite and after settling near the tail of the field had to weave Over Exposure through the pack in the straight but just failed to run down the winner. $41 outsider Exalted Lauretta led and battled on well for third.

  • 1st – Easy Beast
  • 2nd – Over Exposure
  • 3rd – Exalted Lauretta

Race 4 (2:15pm) $200,000 Magic Millions Adelaide 2yo Classic (1200m)

Sizzling filly Zizzis kept her unbeaten record intact with an impressive win in the Magic Millions Adelaide 2yo Classic to make it two wins from two starts. Winning jockey Billy Egan settled Zizzis ($9) in the middle of the pack and got the splits in the straight to dash away and score a comfortable win over Illuminaire ($14) with Dancer’s Kin ($10) filling third spot. The short priced favourite Nomothaj ($1.95) settled midfield and was presented at the right time in the straight but failed to catch the leaders to finish just behind the placegetters.

  • 1st – Zizzis
  • 2nd – Illuminaire
  • 3rd – Dancer’s Kin

Race 5 (2:50pm) $100,000 Listed C S Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m)

The two favourites fought out the finish in the C S Hayes Memorial Cup with Lite’N In My Veins ($2.80) surging away in the final few strides to beat Chamois Road ($3). Chamois Road set the pace but had no answer when Mark Zahra applied the pressure on Lite’N’ In My Veins half way down the straight. Petrology ($9.50) raced in the middle of the six horse field and was doing his best work at the finish to finish third.

  • 1st – Lite’N In My Veins
  • 2nd – Chamois Road
  • 3rd – Petrology

 

Race 6 (3:30pm) $60,000 BenchMark 75 Handicap (1600m)

Short priced favourite Savatag scored an all the way win in the BenchMark 75 Handicap to extend his unbeaten run to four wins on the trot. Winning jockey Todd Pannell let Savatag ($2.70 favourite) stride to the front and then rated the five year old perfectly in front to record a dogged win. The Will Clarken trained gelding was attacked by the runner up Battlecamp ($5) but was able to hold him on to a neck margin on the line while Dancers On Stars ($9) ran on from back in the field to grab third spot.

  • 1st – Savatag
  • 2nd – Battlecamp
  • 3rd – Dances On Stars

Race 7 (4:20pm) $400,000 Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) 

Jockey Michael Walker and the Lindsay Park Team combined for another feature race win with Fanatic winning the 2018 Adelaide Cup. Walker settled Fanatic ($4.40 favourite) just better than midfield before getting a dream run up along the fence on the home turn. Fanatic shot to the front and then held off the strong challenge of Ormito ($5.50) with Poppiholla ($21) running a bold race for third.

  • 1st – Fanatic
  • 2nd – Ormito
  • 3rd – Poppiholla 

Race 8 (5:00pm) $100,000 Listed Matrice Stakes (1200m)

It’s Been A Battle was in for the fight and was able to get the judges’ decision in a tight finish. It’s Been A Battle ($15) crossed to the front from a wide barrier and led the field up coming to the home turn. The Shane Oxlade trained mare never shirked her task when the well fancied Stellar Collision ($4.20) loomed up on her outside and was able to get the bob of the head in on the line. $51 outsider Riziz ran home for third while the $3.10 favourite Steel Frost was always well back in the field and never threatened.

  • 1st – It’s Been A Battle
  • 2nd – Stellar Collision
  • 3rd – Riziz

Race 9 (5:40pm) $60,000 BenchMark 75 Handicap (1200m)

The Will Clarken trained Tatoosh ($4.60 favourite) was awarded the last race on Adelaide Cup Day on protest after being beaten a nose across the line by Weather Channel ($17). Jockey Jamie Kah was quick to fire in a protest after being bumped at the 100m and stewards agreed with Kah and awarded her the race. The placings were reversed with Tatoosh being awarded the race with Weather Channel being relegated to second. Third placegetter Midnight Storm ($10) finished a close third.

  • 1st – Tatoosh
  • 2nd – Weather Channel
  • 3rd – Midnight Storm

 

*All times quoted local (AEDT) and subject to change

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.