Racing: Adelaide campaign on track after scare

By MIKE DILLON

The $A300,000 Adelaide Cup campaign by Kiwi stayers Bel Air and Likely Story appears to have survived a sickness scare in the state of Victoria.

The connections of the Takanini pair have had a worrying time since fellow New Zealand stayer Cavallo Bruno became sick after the flight from Auckland to Melbourne on Saturday.

The concern has been that if the problem is caused by a virus, Bel Air and Likely Story, stabled with Cavallo Bruno at Ballarat, could also be brought down.

"The local vets have not been able to tell us whether it's a virus or an element of travel sickness," said Bridgette Flynn, daughter of Cavallo Bruno's Hastings trainer Keith Flynn.

Takanini trainer Frank Ritchie, travelling with Likely Story, said there was no sign his horse or Bel Air had been affected.

"In fact, both horses seem to be thriving."

Bridgette Flynn faxed Cavallo Bruno's blood count picture back to their usual vet in Hawkes Bay.

"His white blood cell count is down, but our vet at home does not think the blood picture is anything to worry about.

"Things didn't look too good on Monday night, but he picked up a bit today and I paceworked him and it's brightened him up like you can't believe."

The setback has cost Cavallo Bruno any chance of running in Saturday's $A120,000 Carlton Draught Stakes in Adelaide and has almost certainly ruined his prospects of competing in the 3200m Adelaide Cup.

Cavallo Bruno did not float across to Adelaide with Bel Air and Likely Story as planned last night, and Flynn will monitor the horse's progress in the next 36 hours to determine his immediate future.

"I'm not sure whether we will end up sending him to Adelaide, or whether we'll try to find him a race here in Melbourne.

"We've come here to compete and we want to get him to the races if at all possible."

Sydney Cup winner Mr Prudent and Melbourne stayer Native Jazz are current 5-1 joint favourites for the Adelaide Cup.

Bel Air is third favourite at 7-1 with The Hind at 8-1 and Likely Story 10-1.

Last year's Australasian Oaks winner Grand Echezeaux will start in Saturday's $A150,000 Marsh Classic at Morphettville despite being beaten into second as a short-priced favourite there last weekend.

Michael Freedman, brother to Grand Echezeaux's trainer Lee Freedman, said the Peter and Philip Vela-owned mare had no luck last Saturday.

"She got flushed out wide from the 1000m and the way the race was run nothing was able to make ground."

Jim Cassidy will ride Grand Echezeaux, replacing Damien Oliver who will be in Japan riding Testa Rossa in the Spring Cup.

Also at Morphetville, Lee Freedman will rely on Bush Padre in his quest to win the group one $A250,000 ($311,140) South Australian Derby (2500m) for a second time.

Brett Prebble will retain the mount on Bush Padre, who won the Veuve Clicquot easily on Saturday.

A forecast for fine weather through to the weekend in Brisbane is not good news for the connections of Takanini 3-year-old Millennium for Saturday's $A100,000 Doomben Classic.

While Doomben traditionally has some "give" in its racing surface, Millennium would be best suited by rain for his Australian debut.

A firmer track would suit unbeaten Matamata 3-year-old Society Beau, who will similarly be having his first Australian start in the Doomben Classic. Society Beau will be ridden by Jim Collett.