Adelong has given trainer Brad Widdup his second black-type success of the season with a deserved victory in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes at Randwick.
The Hawkesbury trainer has endured a couple of near-misses in feature races this term with Adelong’s stablemate Icebath edged out in both the Golden Eagle and Doncaster Mile.
Vulpine gave Widdup a fillip when she took out the Wenona Girl Quality at Group 3 level during the autumn before Adelong’s breakthrough in Saturday’s 1100m sprint.
After stringing together a hat-trick of wins last winter, Adelong was stepped up to Group company in the spring and Widdup admits it was a bridge too far.
“I think we just went too far into the winter last year, then we tried to go through the spring and it was just too much,” Widdup said.
“She has been a great mare for us and to get that black-type win, it means a lot.”
Adelong underwent tie back surgery following her spring campaign and has been knocking on the door for a stakes victory this time around.
She was placed in both the Hawkesbury Gold Rush and Ortensia Stakes at Listed level, before landing a confidence-boosting victory in the At Sea Handicap last month.
Jay Ford has ridden Adelong ($5.50) at her past three starts and gave her a beautiful passage on Saturday, trailing leader Ballistic Lover before peeling off that horse’s back and surging to the front then withstanding the late bid of Wandabaa ($5) by a neck.
Viridine ($9) was another 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Ford said Adelong had the potential to measure up to higher grade, provided she got the right run.
“She is very particular in how you ride her,” Ford said.
“You just need to let her be early and if that unfolds then she can go a bit richer than today.”
Widdup said Adelong was likely to be freshened and prepared for an early-spring assault.
