Saturday, 16 June 2012: Progressive galloper Adroitly may prove the better value hope in Saturday's Sydney Markets Stayers Cup (race 5) at Rosehill Gardens.
 | Adroitly
Photo by Racing and Sports | |
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The Peter Snowden trained gelding has been installed second favourite for the 3200m race behind last year's winner Reuben Percival but with the pull in the weights can turn the tables.
Adroitly, a son of Octagonal and a half brother to Sandown Guineas winner Caymans, has really come into his own since getting out to the longer journeys this campaign.
Getting fitter in shorter races, he found the line well over 2250m at Hawkesbury three back when running on from the back to finish seventh behind Rueben Percival.
He stepped from that restricted race into the Listed McKell Cup over 2400m at Randwick and enjoyed the longer journey.
Settling last under a hold by jockey Kerrin McEvoy, he angled wider at the 1000m mark into the clear and began a long sustained run.
Getting stronger the further he went, he wound up well and reeled in his rivals to score a three quarter length win over Legsman.
Last start, also over 2400m, he tackled the Listed BMW Winter Cup at Canterbury.
Settling well back early, he quickly improved around the field from the 600m mark and turned midfield before winding up strongly in the straight again.
But he ran out of ground, finishing fourth and beaten a length by Reuben Percival.
Adroitly is yet to tackle this longer journey but has always indicated he would relish the longer trip.
He meets Reuben Percival better at the weights this time and over the two miles with Kerrin McEvoy back aboard he looks hard to hold out.
Reuben Percival won this race last year and is seemingly going better 12 months on so looks the one to beat again.
The Gai Waterhouse trained gelding, a son of Al Akbar, raced on the speed in this race last year and skipped away with a five length win carrying just 53kg.
He has won three staying races in the 12 months since including one in the spring and two this time in.
He returned to winning form fifth up from a spell over 2250m at Hawkesbury, where he sat second throughout and ran away with a three length win.
Next start was over 2400m in the McKell Cup where he tries to lead throughout but could manage only third, beaten two lengths behind Adroitly and Legsman.
At Warwick Farm, in the BMW Winter Cup, jockey Peter Robl sat off the pace and ran on strongly in the straight to score a narrow win over The Verminator, with Adroitly back a further three quarters of a length in fourth place.
Waterhouse decided to send Reuben Percival to Queensland for his last run in last weekend's Group 2
Timeform 
Brisbane Cup over 2400m.
Drawing an outside gate in the big field, jockey Kerrin McEvoy sent the gelding forward but was caught four deep on the speed.
He turned there and despite the tough run boxed on well for fifth, beaten six lengths, behind the classy mare Lights Of Heaven.
Reuben Percival backs up here in a much easier assignment and will find this an easier task from a better gate.
But he rises in weight and has to back up over the longer journey in just seven days having had a trip to Queensland in between.
On his ratings he looks hard to beat but is very tight in the market.
The former Kiwi Roi D'Jeu is fitter for three runs from a spell and should be at his top for this longer even now.
The Craig Ritchie trained gelding raced in the BMW Winter Cup at his third run back and appreciated the 2400m journey, settling fifth in the run and battling away there to hold fifth behind Reuben Pervical, beaten 5.5 lengths.
He has lifted his figures in all three this campaign and is expected to do the same again here as he returns to two miles.
His previous two runs at the journey have seen him finish a 3.5 length seventh in the Group 1 Auckland Cup and a half lehgth fourth in the Group 3 New Zealand Cup.
He is ready for the longer journey and with his light weight and good draw should be in this for a long way.
The colt Reigning takes on the older horses here but will appreciate the drop in grade from the Group 1 Queensland Derby last time.
The
Choisir colt, prepared by Con Karakatsanis, was seventh in the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes before stepping up to 2400m in the Derby and running on well in the straight to finish eighth, beaten 5.5 lengths, behind Brambles.
He might night have been able to match the young legs in the Derby, but does look well placed here despite having his first try at the journey.
He has a great record in heavy ground and with the light weight can measure up against these older horses.
