3 minute read
Imported stayer Drunken Sailor can bring up his biggest Australian win in today's Group 2 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville.
The former English stayer, then trained by Luca Cumani, has a solid international record including 11 wins in the UK and Dubai, three at stakes level beyond 2400m and even a hurdle win over today's journey.
He came to Australia last year aimed at winning the Melbourne Cup and while not measuring up to that class he seems to have settled into Australian racing nicely now.
His Australian debut was in last year's Group 1 Caulfield Cup and there he started a $26 chance. Settling well back from a wide gate, he ran a nice race, hitting the line well for a 4.2 length seventh behind Southern Speed.
His next run was at $41 in the Melbourne Cup a fortnight later. He was badly checked early on but once balanced up settled 10th in the run.
He edged closer coming into the final bend to loom up briefly at fifth but the swoopers began to emerge in better ground out wide and he faded to finish 12th.
While disappointed to see him miss out on prizemoney, paid down to 10th, connections would have been fairly happy with his effort.
Cumani headed home but the gelding was transferred to Mike Moroney's stables and he has been racing very well in the three runs since.
Fresh up was over 1800m at Caulfield and he ran an encouraging third behind Rainbow Styling.
He then went to 2400m of the Listed Mornington Cup and improved further. Carrying 60kg, he settled among the tailenders early but made a long run into second behind Norsqui, who had 6kg less.
Drunken Sailor rounded off his Adelaide Cup campaign with a run in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality over 2600m at Flemington.
Enjoying the big track and given a good run by Damien Oliver, he was able to settle midfield before working into the race and scoring a head win over Our Serena.
He comes into today's race ready for the longer journey and drops a half kilo on the win.
Unlike some of his rivals he won't have any qualms with the journey and Oliver stays aboard today.
The only worry for the gelding is the gate – barrier 20 – but thankfully he's a horse that can take a position forward or back and has a good turn of foot.
He looks the class runner of the race and with a bit of Oliver magic from the draw should prove hard to hold out in this ideal target.
Another to have drawn off the track,Norsqui, looks the main danger.
Drawn one inside Drunken Sailor in barrier 19, Norsqui is fitter for three runs from a spell and has hit form at the right time.
After finishing runner up over 2100m in the Summer Cup at Hobart he was fifth there over the same journey in the Jockey Club Cup under weight for age conditions behind Fieldmaster.
He then headed back across to the mainland and tackled the Morningon Cup where he settled back but made a long powerful run to score by 2.5 lengths.
He rises 2kg on that win for this tougher race, and meets runner up Drunken Sailor 2.5kg worse, but can only be fitter again and will appreciate the longer journey.
He has yet to win over two miles but has placed at both tries, the latest in the Sandown Cup which would be a good guide for this.
Enchanting Waters is in top form including a last start win in the local Lord Reims Stakes.
She has a nice weight and will give a big sight at each way odds again.
Hanks has also hit top form and will be well fancied to take this out. The Peter Moody trained gelding will be on the speed and will take running down.
Fieldmaster is also worth including among the chances on his solid recent Tasmanian form.
He will relish the journey with the light weight.