The
Japanese won the Caulfield Cup and now the Irish have won the Group I MVRC Cox
Plate with an equine aristocrat named Adelaide (IRE).
Prepared from Ballydoyle by champion trainer Aidan O'Brien, Galileo colt Adelaide
has been a global traveller this year in his Northern Hemisphere three year-old
season.
A winner on debut at Leopardstown last year at two on October 26, Adelaide has
had a busy 12 months since then!
He's raced in France, Ireland, the UK and then on to North America for a two
start campaign that saw him run second in the Group I Belmont Derby and win the
Group I Secretariat Stakes at Arlington.
Third at his next run in the Group II Prix Niel in September, it was then on to
Melbourne and what a good decision that's turned out to be for his lucky group
of owners that also include several Aussies.
Adelaide was ridden brilliantly by Ryan Moore, settling initially at the tail
of the field before sweeping around them to zoom home and win the 2040 metre
weight-for-age championship by a short neck over the race favourite Fawkner.
The time of 2:03.76 was only a tick outside Might and Power's race record
demonstrating the class of this explosive win.
Aidan O'Brien wasn't in Melbourne to witness the win, but Coolmore Australia's
Tom Magnier said he would be delighted at the victory.
"To Aidan O'Brien and all the team at Ballydoyle I'm thrilled for them," Tom
Magnier said.
"I'm sure Aidan would be really enjoying this one."
Adelaide is likely to do his future racing in Australia next year for new
trainer Chris Waller, who has a horse to go on with that looks a perfect
candidate for the Group I ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the autumn.
"He did it the hard way, but he's a high-quality colt and I believed that
if he brought his best form, he was probably the best horse in the race," said
winning rider Ryan Moore said.
"He's had to go around the whole field and come from last. But he still
won.
"It's a lovely race to win."
With four wins and four placings from just eight starts, Adelaide is the consummate
professional and is the best offspring from former brilliant Group II winning
juvenile Elletelle a daughter of Danzig sire Elnadim.
A Galileo with a touch of brilliance, Adelaide has been best placed at a mile
and a quarter up to now, but may well prove effective at shorter distances in
Australia next preparation.