Fresh from the biggest win in her career in last weekend’s Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge, Jessica Eaton will chase Adelaide Cup glory at Morphettville on Monday.
The leading rider in SA’s stunning season has seen her booked by Ballarat trainer Archie Alexander to partner Barade in the $302,250 two-mile feature.
“It’s a big thrill,” Eaton said.
“It’s a Group 2 and it’s massive to be getting an opportunity in a race like the Adelaide Cup.
“He’s a nice ride. His two runs in Tassie were great and it should set him up well for his first go at 3200m.”
Alexander said Eaton’s impressive form in the saddle since making SA her home was impossible to overlook when searching for a rider.
“We need someone who can ride 54kg and thought let’s just go straight to the top of the premiership,” Alexander said.
“She’s the leading rider, she rides the track very well and she know every blade of grass. We thought ‘Why not use the person riding winners?’.
“Hopefully she can give him a good ride.”
Barade comes off two solid efforts in Tasmania, running third behind Double You Tee in the Hobart Cup before jumping a heavily backed favourite in the Launceston Cup and eventually finishing fourth behind Glass Warrior.
“Every time he runs we have been thinking it will be his last run for the preparation, but he just keeps pulling up so well, so we thought why not roll the dice again,” Alexander said.
“We’ve got a good barrier, a light weight and he’s going to run well again.”
Alexander will saddle up two runners from contrasting barriers. Barade drawn nicely in barrier six, while last weekend’s Listed Roy Higgins Quality winner Mosh Music faces a tricky wide gate, drawn barrier 15 with Mark Zahra to ride.
Mosh Music was impressive beating Double You Tee at Sandown, had a luckless run in the Torney Cup run at Moonee Valley, before bouncing back to her best when beating fellow Cup hopefuls Sin To Win and Stars Of Carrum at Flemington.
“Everything went right last time,’’ Alexander said.
“It’s unfortunate with the wide barrier, but she’s got one of the best riders in Australia…”
Alexander has been close to Adelaide Cup success previously, finishing third with Renew back in 2015, and said while Tralee Rose deserved to be favourite, luck in running is required to win the race.
“Tralee Rose is obviously very good, she deserves plenty of respect, but no horse is unbeatable,” Alexander said.
“She (Mosh Music) is a pretty smart mare on her day and I’m happy to take on (the favourite).
“If we run second in Adelaide Cup we’d be very happy, if we can beat her that’s even better.”
Patrick Payne’s Double You Tee was scratched from the feature on Thursday leaving 16 runners set to face the starter.
