The 2017 Adelaide Cup odds have the Darren Weir trained Master Of Arts remaining solid at the top of the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Master Of Arts, above, sits at the top of the market order for the Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Master Of Arts is listed as the $4.60 favourite for the Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville today ahead of the Robert Hickmott trained top weight Chance To Dance at $6, Stuart Webb’s Annus Mirabilis at $7 and De Little Engine at $7.50.
Master Of Arts has drawn beautifully at barrier six and will be ridden by Australian Cup winning jockey Damian Lane who replaces John Allen who was aboard the five year old last start when he won the Group 3 $120,000 James Boag’s Premium Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville on March 4.
The Mastercraftsman stallion had to work hard for his neck win over Adelaide Cup rivals Puccini and Jim’s Journey in the Lord Reims Stakes and Weir said that while he has pulled up okay, he would have to lift if was to win the Adelaide Cup.
“He seems to be good. He went over there last Saturday and got the job done,” Weir told RSN’s Correct Weight.
“But it wasn’t that impressive to be honest. With the run he had he probably should have powered away with it a bit later in the race but he got the job done.”
“He has done a bit of jumping during the week, he went around in a hurdle school on Friday just quietly but he has really done him well I think.”
“It got him bouncing a bit and that will do him well but he has to run better than he did last Saturday to be able to win.”
$6 second favourite Chance To Dance has had plenty of support, firming in from an opening quote of $7.50 and is coming of a last start second to Northwest Passage in the Listed $150,000 Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on February 17.
Chance To Dance been racing consistently since January and has only missed a place once from his last five starts and was a winner two runs back in a 2400m Open Handicap at Caulfield on February 4.
On the third line of betting at $7 is the Stuart Webb trained Annus Mirabilis who made up ground from the back when fifth last start to Big Memory in the Listed $120,000 Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington on March 4.
Webb said that Annus Mirabilis should have finished closer after being shuffled back in the field approaching the home turn and he was happy with the run.
“We were probably going to straighten up fourth or fifth a couple of lengths off the lead and got shuffled back through the field and to only be beaten the margin he did I thought the run was great,” Webb told racing.com.
“He should be further improved with that run under his belt and I’m looking forward to this race.
The Danny O’Brien trained De Little Engine has had plenty of support and has firmed in from $10 to be on the fourth line of betting at $7.50.
De Little Engine is steppig up to the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup at only his third run back following a second over 1800m at Caulfield on February before finishing fourth to Big Memory in the Roy Higgins Quality.
