Moody and Nolen to team up in Adelaide Cup

The all-conquering team of trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen will move to Adelaide on Monday with the in form Hanks in the Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.

Hanks is lining up for a hat trick of wins after being successful at his last two run at Moonee Valley in the restricted 3000m Hafele Australia Handicap on February 10 then stepped up in grade taking out the Listed $150,000 Sportingbet Night Cup over 2500m on February 24.

The five year old has drawn just worse than midfield at barrier twelve in the twenty horse field but has fared better than topweight Drunken Sailor who came up with the outside barrier.

The Mike Moroney trained seven year has a huge job ahead of him and champion jockey Damien Oliver will have to ride another inspired race to get him home under 59.5kg from barrier twenty.

Oliver bounced back from a horrific fall at Moonee Valley last Friday night to steer Drunken Sailor up along the fence under 60kg to take out the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington the next day.

Moroney was in two minds if he was going to leave the blinkers off Drunken Sailor after the Flemington win but has opted not to change the gear.

“The problem was he was switching on too much and we’ve got two miles to go in the Adelaide Cup and I’ll have a talk to Ollie about it and we will see if we leave them off or put them back on,” Moroney said after the Flemington win.

Mornington Cup winner Norsqui also drew a horror gate and jockey Chris Symons will have to find a way to slot in from barrier nineteen.

The Lloyd Kennewell trained Rialya will meet Lord Reims Stakes winner Enchanting Waters two kilos better after running two and a quarter lengths second to him last Saturday.

The Adelaide Cup is the race Rialya has been set for all along and Kennewell is confident the four year old is ready to peak.

“Rialya is one of those horses that has been looking for further ground and he’s right on track now so hopefully he can keep taking the next step,” Kennewell said.

Jockey Shayne Cahill should be able to give Rialya the run of the race from barrier three with Craig Robertson on Enchanting Waters breathing down his neck after jumping from gate eight.

In form jockey Craig Williams will make the trip from Melbourne to ride Persian Star (14) who ran a fair race when fourth to Drunken Sailor in the Roy Higgins at Flemington last Saturday.

ADELAIDE CUP FIELD

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 131370X321 DRUNKEN SAILOR (IRE) Michael Moroney Damien Oliver 20 59.5kg 108
2 X41613X251 NORSQUI Walter McShane Chris Symons 19 56kg 98
3 9671073172 CROCODILE CANYON (NZ) Kevin Myers Kerrin McEvoy 11 54.5kg 94
4 41143X5153 FIELDMASTER (NZ) Patrick Payne Ms Michelle Payne 2 54.5kg 93
5 04X8855211 HANKS Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 12 54.5kg 93
6 4464911256 WESTERN JEWEL Grant Williams Ms Kyra Yuill (a) 4 54.5kg 99
7 1345185512 RIALYA Lloyd Kennewell Shayne Cahill 3 54kg 92
8 06727X0095 SADDLER’S STORY Robert Smerdon Glen Boss 9 53.5kg 91
9 7622751231 ENCHANTING WATERS Michael Sell Craig Robertson 8 53kg 94
10 5X04743834 PERSIAN STAR Robert Smerdon Craig Williams 14 53kg 91
11 X151936447 SEAN BAILE MOR Todd Balfour 7 53kg 80
12 35X8231241 TANAH LOT (NZ) Colin Little Dwayne Dunn 5 53kg 77
13 7113321033 HE’S HOT TO TROT Mick Whittle Adrian Patterson 17 53kg 76
14 5X00671744 MR RIGGS Robbie Griffiths Dean Yendall 18 53kg 74
15 7617234185 BEAUTIFUL SOUL Daniel Clarken Ms Clare Lindop 15 53kg 71
16 4707662511 TAKE OUT Ron Daniel Dom Tourneur 1 53kg 71
17 25X5641114 XAAR BEST Mark Stephenson Daniel Moor 16 53kg 70
18 640X044223 WARRINGAH (GB) Daryl Archard Dean Holland 6 53kg 69
19 4X09X61212 ALL OUT WAR (IRE) Michael Moroney Andrew Mallyon 10 53kg 66
20 10X7547334 DUMOSA Barry Brook Todd Pannell 13 53kg 63

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.