Many might look at gate 16 for Tuscan Fire and put a line through him for the Group 2 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville today, but recent history shows this is no barrier.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Just last year Drunken Sailor ran a very narrow second behind Rialya from barrier 20, with Muir winning from 18 two years ago.
The comparison between Tuscan Fire and 2011 winner Muir does not stop there either, with both coming into the race on the back of a last start third in the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m).
Figures out of that race suggest Tuscan Fire comes into this a little better then Muir did and he should prove hard to beat against this field.
With limited races over 3200m in Australia, there are not many of these to have contested over this distance but Tuscan Fire has had four goes at the trip, albeit over the hurdles, winning two of them.
Top jockey Glen Boss maintains the ride and is yet to miss a placing on the six-year-old from five rides and from the wide draw is likely to push forward and turn this into a true staying test.
The Dan O’Sullivan runner has won three of his last five starts, including the Group 2 Mornington Cup two starts back and looks very hard to beat today.
Dame Claire from the Pat Carey stable seems to have hit a bit of form in recent times and looks the main danger.
She was runner up in the Roy Higgins last time out and only meet’s Tuscan Fire slightly worse at the weights. She has won her only time over the trip and rates well on weight Adjusted Timeform ratings.
Pat Carey has a knack of getting his runners in fine form for staying features and she looks on song for this race today.
From barrier 7 she is also likely to push forward and will more than likely stalk Tuscan Fire throughout the race.
Going through the same form line the winner of the Roy Higgins Kutchinsky also rates a mention in this but finds himself over the 3200m for the first time.
His last start effort brings him right into this and the Danny O’Brien stable is firing at present. Craig Williams stays on board and despite not having run over the trip will be running on and does not look without hope.
Another strong lead up to this race the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes was taken out by last year’s winner Rialya and My Ex Mate was very good when winning this year’s renewal.
The five-year-old gelding is also untried at the trip and will need to do more work from barrier 17 after drawing the rails last start but must come into consideration and rates a genuine chance here.
Macedonian from the Peter Moody stable has failed to win a race in 849 days but recent form has been solid enough to challenge in this race.
The seven-year-old has good credentials at the trip and was third in the Mornington Cup behind Tuscan Fire last start and with only 55.5kg can make his presence felt.
Behind these there are a handful of each way chances including Talent Show who was runner up in the Lord Reims Stakes along with You Think So and Lucky Angel.
Expecting Tuscan Fire to go straight to the lead in this and making it a true staying test should be fit enough to see out the 3200m.
