Photo: supplied
At the end of a two-horse war that lasted the length of the Morphettville straight and brought the crowd to their feet, Karaka graduate American Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) came out on top in Monday’s A$350,000 Group Two Adelaide Cup (3200m).
Victorian-based expat New Zealand trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young paid $110,000 to buy American Wolf from Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where he was offered by Waikato Stud. American Wolf has now had 16 starts for three wins, five placings and A$416,585 in stakes.
Ridden in Monday’s two-mile feature by Jett Stanley, American Wolf was travelling with ominous ease coming down the side of the track and moved up alongside the leader Highland Bling (Highland Reel) at the home turn. But that rival rose to the challenge.
American Wolf and Highland Bling drew more than five lengths clear of the rest of the field down the straight, trading the lead with almost every bob of the head through a hard-fought last 200 metres. Only a nose separated them at the finish line, and it was American Wolf’s nose that got there first.
“We told the owners that this was the grand final we were aiming at all the way through the campaign, so to get here and win it is fantastic,” Young said. “Jett rode him a treat. He got the horse to relax nicely, which is what he needed. The distance was never going to be an issue as long as he relaxed and got into his rhythm.
“Jett just kept him nice and relaxed. He made a bit of a move at the 800, getting off the fence and ready to pounce three or four out.
“I wasn’t sure whether we won it at the line, but it’s fantastic that we did. It’s great for High Calibre Racing and the other owners.”
Stanley’s Cup triumph had a brief blip when he was dislodged by American Wolf after the finish line.
“The ambos were asking whether I was okay, and I said, ‘Tell me the result of the photo and I’ll tell you,’ and the limp cleared up pretty quickly when one of them said American Wolf had won,” the 21-year-old jockey said.
“I said ‘are you joking’ and then the crowd started yelling. It’s something I won’t forget.
“This horse is a proper stayer. Hopefully we can see him on the first Tuesday in November (Melbourne Cup).”
Completing an outstanding result for Waikato Stud, who bred and sold the winner, the third placegetter in Monday’s Adelaide Cup was the homebred Waikato Stud mare Hurry Curry (NZ) (Ocean Park).
