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 |