Trainer Aidan O’Brien will not be making the trip to Australia for the 2014 Cox Plate, but he is happy with the form of Adelaide heading into the Group 1 event at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Ryan Moore will ride Adelaide in the 2014 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Adelaide started his 2014 racing season with a tight second in the Group 2 Prix Hocquart (2200m) at Longchamp on May 11 before he scored a maiden win at Group level in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes (2011m) at Curragh on May 25.

The Galileo entire finished second behind Eagle Top in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (2414m) during the 2014 Royal Ascot Meeting before he was sent to the United States Of American where he finished second in the Group 1 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (2011m) at Belmont Park and took out the Group 1 Secretariat Stakes (2011m) at Arlington on August 16.

Adelaide returned to European racing with a third place finish behind Ectot in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Niel (2400m) at Longchamp on September 14 and O’Brien told RSN that he is happy with the form that Adelaide is taking into the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday.

“He is in good form,” O’Brien said.

“He has had a couple of nice runs; he had a nice run in France last time and he won in America the time before that, so he seems to be in good form.

“(Stable representatives) T.J. and David seem to be happy with him down there.”

European-trained horses have had little success in the Cox Plate and a number of international runners in the race, like Side Glance last year, have struggled to handle the tight-turning and unique Moonee Valley circuit.

O’Brien is confident that Adelaide will be able to handle the tricky Moonee Valley track, but admits that luck in running can play a key role in the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship and is hoping that he draws favorably at the 2014 Cox Plate barrier draw tomorrow morning.

“He is a horse that usually travels well and usually quickens well,” O’Brien said.

“I suppose we will see, but I think that it is important in that race to get a nice draw so hopefully he will.

“There are a lot of horses and there are a lot of dangers.

“We are always afraid of all the horse, but Adelaide appears to be in good form and hopefully he gets to the race in good form and hopefully he runs well.”

Adelaide is currently available at 2014 Cox Plate odds of $5.50 and is on the second line of betting with Ladbrokes from Fawkner ($4).