Key rider bookings for Maher in the 2025 Adelaide Cup

Ciaron Maher is no stranger to success, but the Adelaide Cup remains one of the few major trophies missing from his collection. On Monday, he will aim to change that with two contenders, Promises Kept and Goldenstatewarrior, in the Group 2 3200-metre event at Morphettville.

Blake Shinn and Michael Dee have been booked to ride, both coming off feature race victories in New Zealand. Shinn piloted Damask Rose to glory in the NZ$3.5 million The Kiwi (1500m), while Dee took the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) aboard Willydoit.

Goldenstatewarrior, who finished fourth in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) last time out, will have slight adjustments made to his gear, as explained by Maher’s assistant trainer Jack Turnbull.

“He was inclined to do more late but he did float for a bit, so headgear will go on him,” Turnbull said. “We’ll ride him with a little bit more initiative and get him involved. He’s got a lightweight and we do believe he’ll stay.”

Meanwhile, Promises Kept heads into the race after a consistent campaign in Tasmania, securing runner-up finishes in the Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) and Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m).

“He went back to Ballarat and only had the one piece of work because he is very fit,” Turnbull said. “He strode up the back straight on Tuesday morning and we can’t fault him.”

The stable has opted to reintroduce blinkers to Promises Kept in hopes of improving his focus.

“He is a bit of a thinker and was having a look last time, so we’re going back to the blinkers,” Turnbull explained. “With 58 kilos, they haven’t missed him, but it is what it is.”

As the race approaches, Phillip Stokes’ Taramansour remains the market leader, sitting at $4 on betting platforms for the Adelaide Cup 2025, a race first contested in 1864.