Legendary sports commentator Bruce McAvaney believes Tralee Rose can continue to help boost the profile of the Adelaide Cup by winning Monday’s $302,250 feature at Morphettville.
McAvaney said it was impossible to not be impressed by the Symon Wilde-trained mare, who will run one of the shortest-priced favourites in the race’s 151-year history.
“She’s very very promising,” McAvaney said.
“She’s such a good stayer and the thing about her she appears to be doing it all under soft riding.”
Tralee Rose will be chasing her sixth win at start 11 in the two-mile staying test and McAvaney said it will be exciting to see where the four-year-old can take her career in the next six months.
“She’s been a revelation,” McAvaney said.
“It’s been developing to a point where she’s got to this level.
“Where does she fit in terms of a Melbourne Spring or Sydney Cup? We do not know. But you feel the timing is perfect for her.”
McAvaney said a victory by Tralee Rose could again be a launching pad to bigger and better things, something the race has provided in the past two years.
Surprise Baby went from winning an Adelaide Cup at just sixth start to a leading Melbourne Cup chance in 2019. Danny O’Brien’s King Of Leogrance then scored an emphatic Cup win last year before his promising spring campaign was derailed through injury.
“The past two winners of the Adelaide Cup have been well above average,” McAvaney said.
“King Of Leogrance came here off a Roy Higgins with an international profile and Surprise Baby was untapped and went on to bigger and better things.
“She (Tralee Rose) is going to give the Adelaide Cup a very good name if she comes out and wins like many of us expect.
“You look at the field and might say it’s not strong, but I don’t really think the race has changed a lot over the past few years. The reputation of the race will be determined on the result on Monday.”
McAvaney added that Adelaide Cup Day came at an opportune time in what he sees as an exciting period for the South Australian racing industry.
“I think in the last eight to 10 weeks we’ve really seen a turning point in South Australian racing,” McAvaney said.
“We’re seeing prizemoney increases (and) the Magic Millions day at Murray Bridge was excellent.
“There is a real optimism surrounding the sport here in SA and I hope that will again be reflected on what is always a great day at Morphettville on Monday.”
