3 minute read
Feature racing returns to Morphettville on Monday when a field of seventeen assembles for the 2024 Adelaide Cup.
For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.
The time-honoured staying feature will be run at Group 2 level again this year, and some of the better stayers in Adelaide will be joined by a smart interstate contingent at 4:15pm local time.
I've run the rule over every galloper below in my comprehensive 2024 Adelaide Cup preview.
2024 Adelaide Cup Betting Strategy
► 3 Units The Map (Win)
► 1 Unit One Last Kiss (Each Way)
1 – Amade
Amade has been racing competitive in black type staying company this time in.
Won the Geelong Cup back in October and returned from a freshen up to fill the minors in the Listed Torney Night Cup a couple of weeks ago.
Is proven over two miles and with natural improvement, he does look to be a winning chance.
2 – Alhambra Lad
Alhambra Lad was a dominant winner over 2200m at Hobart back in January, but was too bad to be true in the Ladbrokes Hobart Cup a month ago.
Turned in a vastly improved performance to finish second in the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup last time out and did look to be crying out for a longer trip.
He is untested at two miles, but this is the perfect opportunity to get him out to it.
3 – Excelleration
Steps out in peak order and following the standout performance of his career to date in the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup.
Each run this time in has been a stark improvement on the one that preceded it and is undoubtedly primed for another big performance.
Harry Coffey enhances his chances and the $8 about him in Adelaide Cup betting at publish could prove overs.
4 – The Map
Leading local that has opened a popular favourite in 2024 Adelaide Cup betting ($3.80 into $2.70 at publish).
Gave nothing else a chance in the JRA Plate over 2000m here in February and was last seen finishing second, beaten less than a length in the Lord Reims.
He strips fitter third-up and gets the notable advantage of Jamie Kah in the saddle this week. A fitting favourite.
5 – Skelm
Skelm is yet to record a win in five starts back from a break and has been well beaten at each.
He has gone up at big and justifiable Adelaide Cup odds.
6 – Grand Pierro
Grand Pierro has returned to the races an improved galloper this time and is fitting of his place in the 2024 Adelaide Cup field.
Having filled the minors in the Bagot Handicap over 2800m at Flemington on New Year's Day, the Pierro gelding has turned in similar performances to finish third in the Hobart and Launceston Cups respectively in the weeks leading up to this race.
He does look to be in peak order and under Craig Williams, looks a top three chance again.
7 – Yellowbrick Road
Yellowbrick Road has enjoyed an ideal lead-up to the Adelaide Cup.
After finishing down the order over 1800m at Sandown fresh from a break, he's since recorded consecutive wins in Victorian BM70 company and in the Lord Reims Stakes, beating home Adelaide Cup favourite The Map in the latter.
He's hard fit and while he's untested at two miles, another rise in trip does look to suit at this point of his preparation.
With only 53kgs in tow, another win on Monday wouldn't surprise.
8 – Port Guillaume
Port Guillaume has opened at Adelaide Cup odds of $41.
Having yet to make an impact in three runs back from a break, all weaker races, it's tough imagining him fighting out the finish on Monday afternoon.
9 – Lincoln King
Lincoln King is another clear outsider in Adelaide Cup betting ($61).
He faces a big rise in class following fair efforts without threatening in the Colac Cup and the Torney Night Cup this time in.
10 – Team Captain
It has been more than two years since Team Captain won a race.
He has improved slightly with each of three runs back this time, but this is a big rise in class from the BM78 race in which he was last seen finishing three-lengths fifth.
11 – One Last Kiss
One Last Kiss is an intriguing runner in the 2024 Adelaide Cup field and could prove to be value at a long quote.
She was disappointing after a tough run in the Torney Night Cup last time out, but her form prior to that was good, and included a dominant win over 2520m at HQ.
She is yet to step out over two miles, but in peak order and with a light weight in two, she's one that does look capable of running on well when the whips start cracking.
12 – Sandastan
Sandastan has won four of his last five race starts, but all were at a substantially weaker grade than the Adelaide Cup 2024.
His one miss in that time came in the Lord Reims Stakes when well beaten by the likes of Yellowbrick Road and The Map, and it's hard imaging him turning the tables on opposition of their calibre.
13 – Oceanic Flash
Oceanic Flash was beaten more than a length by One Last Kiss at Flemington two starts back and was well beaten again in BM78 race at Caulfield last time out.
I am happy to risk him in the 2024 Adelaide Cup.
14 – Rapinoe
Warrnambool trainer Peter Chow is having a throw at the stumps in the Adelaide Cup with Rapinoe, who has gone $61 out to $67 in betting this week.
She just got there in BM64 company at The Valley two back before a fair run in the Lord Reims, and this race might prove to be a bridge too far.
15 – Roaring Engine
Roaring Engine was beaten by Rapinoe at The Valley two runs back before just getting there at BM70 grade at Sandown last time out.
This is a huge rise in class, and I will need to see him perform at this level before I can trust him.
16 – Eight On The Dot
Eight On The Dot has opened at Adelaide Cup odds of $151 and will need to find several lengths on his best performances to date to fight out the finish.
17 – Tullaghan
It has been a long time since Tullaghan won a race and he has been well beaten at each of his last four starts.
The $151 about him in Adelaide Cup betting at publish looks about right.
