Dictionary on path towards the G2 Adelaide Cup
Dictionary has a chance to secure a spot in the Adelaide Cup when he heads to Morphettville for a key lead-up race.
Trainer John Moloney is using the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) this Saturday as a trial for Dictionary ahead of the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 10.
"If he was to perform in this race, then it would be logical for us to take a chance to run in the Adelaide Cup," Moloney said.
"If he was to run one, two or three, then you would think he could be a chance to return."
Dictionary, a half-brother to the iconic Makybe Diva, has the staying pedigree to tackle the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup.
After a win at Mornington three starts ago, Dictionary performed below expectations at Sandown over 2100m on January 25 and followed up with a fifth-place finish over 2400m the following week.
Moloney noted that Dictionary had a tough run in that race, which affected his recovery, but the gelding has bounced back well.
"Goldenstatewarrior is well in the market, and it just beat us home at Sandown last start with us having a tough run, sitting three-wide and then going up outside the leader," Moloney said.
"That’s why we’ve waited three weeks to run him again."
"The race he ran in was a back-up from the week before, so with that in mind we decided to let him settle down a bit after two runs close together."
"He did a bit of swimming and that helped freshen him up after that run, but I would like to think that wherever Goldenstatewarrior finishes, we wouldn’t be too far from it."
"Our horse can stay well, and it will be a nice test to see where he sits amongst this group of horses."
Moloney believes that most of the horses in the Listed Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley will also be contenders for the Adelaide Cup 2025.
"You would think these are the sort of horses on Saturday and those in the Torney Cup would be the ones going around in the Adelaide Cup," Moloney noted.
"Hopefully he can run well on Saturday and give a bit of a sight as a lead up into the Adelaide Cup."
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