Good Idea carried some of Australian racing’s most famous silks to victory in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville on Monday.
The Phillip Stokes-trained gelding, a son of Faint Perfume who was trained by legendary horseman Bart Cummings and finished runner-up a year earlier, providing an upset with Ben Thompson in the saddle, as red-hot favourite Tralee Rose flopped in fourth place.
It was an SA quinella, with Shane Oxlade’s Eperdument brave in defeat three and half lengths away, and Long Arm finishing strongly to grab third spot.
“It’s a big thrill,” Stokes said on RadioTAB this morning.
“I know he lead-up form wasn’t as good on paper, but he’s raced in a lot harder races.
“Benny Thompson gave him a beautiful ride.”
Stokes said the Sydney Cup was an option for the slow-maturing horse who started his career in SA and took five starts to win his maiden a Strathalbyn back in 2018.
“He’s nominated for the Sydney Cup, we might have to look at that he doesn’t mind the sting out of the ground,’’ Stokes added.
Like Good Idea, it was a superb homecoming for superstar jockey Jamie Kah, who won three of the opening four races on Cup Day.
Kah started the day with a stunning win aboard Seradess for the Mark Kavanagh stable in the Listed Cinderella Stakes, combined with SA’s leading trainer Michael Hickmott and Echoes In Eternity, before adding a second Listed win in the Matrice Stakes aboard Night Raid.
It was also a happy return home for Will Price, who landed his first Morphettville double, winning on Legend Of Zorro and Viduka for good mate Ryan Balfour.
Cup Day also saw exciting local Ironclad enhance his growing reputation by winning the C S Hayes Cup with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Trainer Will Clarken is now considering a potential tilt at the Mornington Cup, which carries automatic entry into the Caulfield Cup.