Dictionary is eyeing a spot in the Adelaide Cup as he heads to Morphettville for a crucial lead-up race.
Trainer John Moloney is using the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) this Saturday to assess how Dictionary measures up before 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,” said Moloney.
“If he was to run one, two or three, then you would think he could be a chance to return.”
With a solid staying pedigree, being a half-brother to Makybe Diva, Dictionary has the potential to handle the gruelling 3200m distance.
After securing a win at Mornington three starts ago, Dictionary’s performances dipped at Sandown on January 25 (2100m), followed by a fifth-place finish over 2400m a week later.
Moloney pointed out that Dictionary had a rough race that day, requiring a few days to recover, but the gelding has since shown improvement.
“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.”
Along with the Listed Torney Night Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley, Moloney doesn’t expect too many other horses from outside these races to line up 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 said.
“Hopefully he can run well on Saturday and give a bit of a sight as a lead up into the Adelaide Cup.”
