A spot in the Adelaide Cup is within reach for Dictionary when he lines up for a preparatory race at Morphettville.
Trainer John Moloney is targeting the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) this Saturday as a crucial test 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 stated.
“If he was to run one, two or three, then you would think he could be a chance to return.”
With staying bloodlines, including being a half-brother to the legendary Makybe Diva, Dictionary has the pedigree to handle the 3200m distance.
After a win at Mornington three starts ago, Dictionary underperformed at Sandown over 2100m on January 25 and followed up with a fifth-place finish over 2400m a week later.
Moloney acknowledged that Dictionary had a tough race, which left him needing some recovery time, 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 explained.
“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 contesting the Listed Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night will also be contenders in 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.”
