Tony McEvoy has both Pelicano and Lucky Lucky Lucky in the 2015 Adelaide Cup and he is optimistic about the chances of both horses in the Group 2 event at Morphettville this afternoon.
Pelicano has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville this afternoon. Photo by: Steve Hart
Pelicano will be stepping up to 3200 metres for the first time in his racing career in the Adelaide Cup and he will be having his sixth race start since he returned to racing following an operation to have a bone chip removed from the off-fore sesamoid in 2014.
The Court Of Jewels gelding produced promising performances in both the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on December 13 and the Summer Cup (2000m) at the same venue on Boxing Day, but he was slightly disappointing in the Listed Gosford Cup (2100m) on January 9 before producing fair performances in the Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) on February 9 and the Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m) on February 25.
McEvoy admits that Pelicano has been unable to find his best form since he returned to the races, but he told AAP that the six-year-old is still good enough to win the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) this afternoon.
“Pelicano is the best horse of my two but probably not in career best form,” McEvoy said.
“I’m not sure he would need to be in this sort of race.
“It doesn’t look a very strong race to me.”
Lucky Lucky Lucky joined the McEvoy stable at the start of 2015 and he has performed strongly in his three race starts for his new trainer.
The Lucky Owners gelding was narrowly denied a maiden win at Listed level when he finished second behind Éclair Samba in the Birthday Cup (2032m) at Morphettville on February 14 and he stamped himself as a genuine Adelaide Cup contender with another second in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville on February 28.
Lucky Lucky Lucky looked to die on his run in the final stages of the Lord Reims Stakes, but McEvoy remains confident that the five-year-old can run out a strong 3200 metres.
“Lucky Lucky Lucky is in great form at the moment and all the signs are that he will run the trip,” McEvoy said.
“They are fit and well and I’m looking forward to it.”
Lucky Lucky Lucky is currently available at 2015 Adelaide Cup odds of $4.80 with Ladbrokes, while Pelicano is priced at a quote of $13.
