2014 Group One Adelaide Cup Heats Preview

After conducting a number of Three races at Angle Park in recent times, it all culminates with the Group One . Seven heats of the $75,000 to-the-winner race will be conducted tonight.

The recent SA Oaks (Oakvale Destiny) and Derby (Iva Vision) winners will each contest a heat.

Here's a look at the best chances in each heat.

Heat One – Race 3 at 7:25pm

The first heat opens with impressive Derby winner Iva Vision (8) who has the same box as he did in the Derby final. In that particular event he streaked away for a six length win in 29.57. He has been kept fresh since and with two wins from just the two starts at the track he clearly looks the one to beat.

Drawn next to Iva Vision is local chance Genghis Kahn (7). He has four wins from the box seven draw and has compiled nine wins at the tracks with 29.68 his best. He has won his last two and has been in good form prior to that.

Despite an indifferent performance in the SA Oaks final, Mepunga Hayley can never be dismissed. This year's Group One Maturity winner is yet to record a win at Angle Park from two starts. She is having her first run out of the green rug and connections will be hoping she begins a bit better than the last time she raced at Angle Park.

The consistent Musquin Bale (3) looks well drawn near the fence. If he gets any sort of luck in running he is a chance. This is his first race start at Angle Park. He arrives in SA with 17 wins from 60 starts and he has been a Group race winner and finalist.

Heat Two – Race 4 at 7:44pm

A fortnight ago, Allen Deed (1) whizzed around Wentworth Park in the heats of the Group Two Bob Payne Stakes, stopping the clock at 29.43. He finished sixth in the final from a bad draw but for these heats he has drawn perfectly in box one. The Jarvis Bale and Greta Bale (Where's Pedro – Gold Rush Bale) dog has not raced at Angle Park previously but he does have 17 wins from 39 starts so he knows how to find his way to the line.

Wind Whistler (2) was the runner-up behind Iva Vision in the SA Derby. He has taken to Angle Park really well with two wins and one placing from three starts. He is never a factor early on in races but he is very strong so watch his finish. He can't be discounted based on his form at the track.

Galilee Spirit (7) will provide some hope for the locals. He has won his last four including a fourth grade event last week in 29.81. He has been beginning faultlessly and has a load of early speed so that will bring him right into the race. He also has six wins from box seven.

Another local with a bit of speed is Proven Juddy (5). He won at Gawler last start leading all the way. In his last five starts he hasn't won at Angle Park over the 515m distance. His record at track is seven from 18 with a best of 29.69. He needs to be on top of his game to overcome the draw.

Heat Three – Race 5 at 8:08pm

This is a hard race with a number of chances. Campaspe Will (1) hasn't drawn the red for a while so it will be interesting to see how goes. He has won three of his last five around and Sandown and can run time on his day. This is his first race start at Angle Park.

Kalden Gambino (2) has nine wins at the track. The Lochinvar Marlow and Abbadale Affair ( Cool – Sprinkles Of Gold) dog has a best of 29.70 and is good from an inside draw. He finished third in the SA Derby last year behind Ernie Bung Arrow.

Texas Titan (3) impressively won a heat of the SA Derby in 29.77 and subsequently finished third in the final. He will need some luck early as he likes to use a bit of the track. He possesses a strong finish.

Time (5) has won four of his last five around , Sandown and Ballarat. He has good early speed but a poor record from box five, with just one win from eight attempts.

Heat Four – Race 6 at 8:28pm

SA Oaks winner Oakvale Destiny (5) lines up from box five. She was impressive throughout the Oaks series, winning the final in 29.69. She just needs to repeat that to take out this heat.

Crusade Marjen (4) has been quietly plying his trade in Victoria. The Enry Walt and Katathani (Brett Lee – Dancer) dog has won 10 from 16 but has been predominantly racing over the shorter distances. He is fast early but is facing a rise in class and is coming against some experienced chasers.

Clash Of Kings (6) recently won the Group Three Darwin Cup. The lightly raced chaser has had just 13 starts for eight wins. He came to Angle Park in late September for a trial in which he recorded 29.77.

Two local chasers Dustnado (7) and Punishment (8) will battle it out from the wide draw. Both are last start winners at the track and have each won multiple times at the track and distance.

Heat Five – Race 7 at 8:52pm

Aston Kane's (1) run in the SA Derby final can be wiped from memory as he suffered interference very early on and wasn't able to overcome that. He has this draw for the first time in his career and coming into this race has 14 wins from 17 starts including eight at Angle Park. He should go well.

Gimme Fuel (4) is more than capable on his day. He is a winner of 16 races on Victorian tracks and will be having his first start at Angle Park. He won at Sandown in 29.44 two starts back and will just need to handle the track to be up there.

Ollie Bale (2) is a multiple Group race finalist that has been fairly quiet in his last five starts with just the one win. If he gets near the lead he will be hard to stop but he just has to overcome the pace of Aston Kane on his inside.

Heat Six – Race 8 at 9:11pm

Local hero Ernie Bung Arrow (8) takes centre stage in the sixth heat. The Lochinvar Marlow and Slipper's Tonic ( – Slipper's Gin) dog has won his last seven races (even though they have been dispersed over the last year as he had a long spell between January and September) and has a perfect record of three from three from box eight. He won this race last year and has gone a best of 29.55 at the track.

Sidney's Shadow (3) had an unfortunate fall at his last start at the track but the experienced racer should bounce back well. He has won 13 races at Angle Park and is well boxed on the inside. His best time of 29.56 was recorded back in February this year.

Maximum Lil (4) is a well performed Victorian bitch from the Dailly kennel. She has won two of her last three and possesses a strong finish. Overall she has won 11 from 37. The draw is a worry for her first start at the track.

Especially (5) was a recent runner in the heats of the Group Three Cup, finishing third behind track-record-breaker My Bro Fabio. She had a run here at Angle Park last week, finishing fourth in a FFA event. She will likely be improved from that run but has a task ahead of her from the ordinary draw.

Heat Seven – Race 9 at 9:35pm

This is a another tough heat and is the final heat of the big Group One.

Footluce Diva (1) cannot be faulted on her recent performances. She won her heat of the SA Oaks and then finished second in the final behind her sister Oakvale Destiny. She won again last week in 29.79 from this box and was close to the lead.

Kalden Balerion (2) has won 10 from 27 including five wins at the track. He has been racing very consistently and will enjoy being drawn close to the fence.

Crackerjak Dak (3) finished third in the heats of the Group Two Bob Payne Stakes at his last start behind eventual winner of the series, Tommy Brislane. Crackerjak Dak was the Victorian finalist in this year's National Sprint, finishing fourth in the National final at Cannington. If he gets on the bunny he will be hard to catch.

Another National Sprint finalist is drawn in box five. Wild Soul (5) was South Australia's representative in the series. He has won 16 races at the track for a best of 29.79.

Emerley Senorita (8) impressed by winning a heat of the SA Oaks from this draw in 29.85. She finished third in the final and will be looking to give a good account of herself in this race.

Hellyeah Bolt (4) has won 25 from 48. The Tasmanian chaser has had his last two starts at Angle Park for a second and a fourth. He raced at the track in September last year and recorded a win in 29.76. He has won four times wearing the blue rug.

The seven heat winners and the fastest second will progress through to next week's s final, which will be held on , 10 October.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments