Dappled Map takes familiar path before G2 Adelaide Cup twist

Encouraged by her strong preparation for a first-up run this weekend, co-trainers Dan Clarken and Oppy MacGillvray are guiding South Australia's leading stayer, The Map, along the same path towards the Adelaide Cup, starting on Saturday.

The six-year-old mare is set to launch her campaign in the Listed Premier’s Plate (2000m) at Morphettville, the same race she began with successfully last year.

Returning to the track for the first time since finishing 21st in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) last November, where jockey Rachel King described her effort as ‘as game as ever,’ Clarken is looking for another solid performance. Following this race, she is expected to run in the Group 3 Lord Reims Plate (2600m) in two weeks before targeting the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m), a race in which she was narrowly defeated in 2024.

"The horse is very good," Clarken said.

"She had a nice, quiet trial at Strathalbyn last week and she went to Oakbank on Tuesday for a nice little look around and she seems to be in really good order.

"She’s presented like she’s got through the Melbourne Cup and come back in great order.

"But even though they show that, they may not do it on the track but I can’t see that happening. She’s too honest for that."

The Robert Hickmott-trained Beltoro is the favourite for the Premier’s Plate at $3.30 with betting apps in Australia, with The Map sitting at $7.50 as the fourth choice in betting.

"She didn’t have a lot of time between the Melbourne Cup with the Adelaide Cup in mind but she looks an absolute picture and she’s got dapples all over her," Clarken added.

After last year’s Adelaide Cup, The Map traveled to Melbourne and secured victory in the Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in May. This time, her trainers are aiming for an even bigger prize, with a potential tilt at the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on the second day of The Championships at Randwick.

"We will have to have a little think about it but a bit of cut in the track as can happen in Sydney at that time of year, and we’d love to see her go the opposite way, we have to try her on a really heavy track at some stage.

"Obviously we’ve got a couple of runs to go before that to see where we are at but the group one would be massive on her CV."