Monday’s Adelaide Cup will feature OTI’s 2023 Geelong Cup winner Amade, who will try to add another Group 2 win to his racing honour roll.
His first Group 2 victory was in the Belmont Gold Cup in New York (USA) in 2019, before injury curtailed his most promising young career. Travelling to Australia for an extensive rehab program, patient owners had to wait almost two years to see him race again.
Success didn’t take long, winning at Flemington at only his second start down under. A spring preparation focussed on gaining a start in the 2021 Melbourne Cup was hampered by his now frequent habit of missing the start. He almost certainly cost himself victory in both the Geelong and Bendigo Cups that year. As a result, a Melbourne Cup run was unattainable.
After another long break due to injury, Amade has forged a profitable career as an older horse – his 2023 Geelong Cup victory a significant highlight for all involved. Although he is regularly slow to begin, the gelding is generally very competitive and trainer Phillip Stokes admits this negative barrier trait has cost him quite a few wins.
“He now has a blindfold on when he goes in the barrier and they pull it off just before the jump, so he can’t think about it too much. He’s a very talented horse and we have him probably the best he’s ever been, but we just have to get him to jump a little better and hopefully collect a few more wins. He certainly deserves it.”, commented Stokes.
Amade returns to Adelaide, having contested this race last year when finishing 3rd. He had a torrid, wide run in last year’s edition and we will be hoping for a more economical run in transit this time around.
Amade will go into Monday’s Adelaide Cup as one of the leading chances, despite carrying 58kg and giving every other runner at least 4.5kg. He will again be ridden by Zac Spain, who has partnered him on many occasions throughout his Australian career, particularly in his latter years.
See the full field and all race details for the Adelaide Cup here.
We wish everyone involved the best of luck with this enigmatic campaigner. He is a two-mile specialist and, while one wonders what might have been if he’d remained sound in his early years, his staying prowess may again come to the fore at Morphettville on Monday.
