Luck has stayed with the favourite Master Of Arts who has drawn nicely in the capacity field for the 2017 Group 2 $400,000 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on Monday.
Master Of Arts drew barrier six in the twenty horse field plus three emergencies with Damian Lane taking over the reins from John Allen who was victorious on the grey in the Group 3 $120,000 James Boag’s Premium Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville last Saturday.
The Darren Weir trained Master Of Arts cemented his spot at the top of the market order for the Morphettville two miler when he ground out a tough win over Adelaide Cup rivals Puccini and Jim’s Journey in Lord Reims Stakes.
John Allen had to throw everything at Master Of Arts to lift him across the line for a long neck win at the end of the 2600m, but stable representative Jarrod McLean has no worries that the five year old will run out the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup.
“He can certainly stay, so that’s really important,” McLean said.
Weir’s other Adelaide Cup runner Lord Van Percy was completely out of luck at the barrier draw and was handed the number twenty-three marble and will jump from the car park when the field is reduced to the safety limit of twenty runners.
Mark Zahra takes over from Ben Allen on Lord Van Percy who is coming off a last start fourth to Northwest Passage in the Listed $150,000 Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on February 17.
Melbourne Cup winning trainer Robert Hickmott will saddle up the top weight Chance To Dance who has drawn nicely at barrier three with Ben Melham to ride.
Chance To Dance was allocated 58kg for the Adelaide Cup and Melham has been aboard the Irish import for his last two starts for a win in a 2400m Caulfield Open Handicap on February 4 followed by a second to Northward Passage in the Torney Night Cup.
Kate Walters found herself in front at the halfway mark on Puccini in the Lord Reims Stakes when the pace slackened and she might find herself in a similar position from barrier eleven if there is no speed on again.
Lord Reims Stakes third placegetter Jim’s Journey is in for another tough run after drawing barrier eighteen but will come into fifteen if the three emergencies fail to get a run.
Successful Adelaide jockey Dom Tourneur is aboard the Peter Blanch trained Jim’s Journey again.
The Leon Macdonald trained Mail It In also put in a good Adelaide Cup trial when fourth in the Lord Reims Stakes and will be ridden again by Clare Lindop who will likely find a nice spot in the first half of the field from barrier thirteen.
The Lindsay Park Team off David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have one runner in the Adelaide Cup, last start winner Honey Steel’s Gold who has drawn barrier four with Jake Duffy to rode while Flemington trainer Danny O’Brien is bringing over De Little Engine who was given the visitor’s treatment, barrier twenty-two, in the original draw.