The one that got away – Amade’s extraordinary Adelaide Cup

- Lisa Grund

Connections of Amade have experienced the highs and lows of racing more than most. In between a Group 2 win in the Belmont Gold Cup (USA) in 2019 and a Group 3 Geelong Cup win in 2023, Amade has suffered and recovered from two separate long-term injuries. He has also developed a trait of missing the start, which almost certainly cost him victories in both the Geelong and Bendigo Cups of 2021.

Never though have connections experienced such a roller-coaster of emotions than they did at Morphettville on Monday in such a short period of time, prior to and during the running of the Group 2 Adelaide Cup.

  1. Amade departed the yard as a $8 third favourite. Quite simply, he was the class horse in the field but was carrying 4.5kgs more than any other runner, and 5kgs more than most. Excited anticipation for owners grew.
  2. Amade and jockey Zac Spain parted company on the way to the barriers. Spain’s right-hand side stirrup had broken and Amade was loose on the track. Hearts sank.
  3. Amade was captured without expending too much energy. He was passed fit to run, and the right-hand stirrup replaced behind the gates. We were back in it.
  4. Late to load and his blindfold attached, Amade stood still when the gates opened and was slow to begin. He’d missed the start, by 3 or 4 lengths. He would have to come from last.
  5. Picking up ground along the rail, Amade now had a few behind him as the passed the post for the first time. He had race favourite, The Map, in his sights.
  6. Spain’s left-hand side stirrup then broke, and Spain was now riding without any control of his legs, bouncing up and down uncomfortably in the saddle. Hopes were dashed, but Spain had nowhere to go and so Amade continued to run his race within the field.
  7. Turning for home, Amade looked still to be travelling and Spain had worked his way to the outside, still following The Map. He loomed at the 300m as if to go past The Map. He couldn’t … could he?
  8. Without the usual persuasion a jockey may provide, and perhaps understandably tiring from the unique circumstances, Amade just missed out on 3 rd place, just 3 lengths from the winner. Pride, disbelief, disappointment. Just some of the immediate emotions.

The effort of Amade and that of his rider Zac Spain set X (formerly Twitter) alight. Spain commented post-race: “Very frustrating to be honest. The horse has been flying, and for that to happen is very unlucky.”

His trainer, Phillip Stokes, agreed, stating “with even luck, I think he wins by 5 lengths”.

Both Amade and Zac Spain have pulled up well after the race and the horse appears set to head towards the Sydney Cup in April, where we hope that the ride is more conventional.