Chris Waller insists he is no closer to confirming a return race for Adelaide after the Cox Plate winner made his first public appearance for the leading trainer on Tuesday.
Left in the care of the all-conquering Waller after winning the Cox Plate for champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, Adelaide couldn’t figure in a 900-metre Rosehill barrier trial.
The four-year-old ran seventh in a field of nine behind stablemate Arinosa.
Waller said a fast-run barrier trial was a new experience for the Coolmore star who has already won in three countries in an eight-start career.
“He was a touch slow early and he was on and off the bridle on a tight turning track. It’s all a bit different for him,” Waller said.
“But I’ve learnt to be mindful with the European horses not to fire them up too quickly.”
Waller said jockey Hugh Bowman wanted to give Adelaide the opportunity to race closer to the speed in the trial to help the entire adjust to Australian racing conditions.
“They ran along quickly and Hugh said he could have dropped him out and let him run on,” Waller said.
“But he wanted to take him out of his comfort zone a bit because it’s going to be that way in a race like the Queen Elizabeth.”
Adelaide heads Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting from Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist and Japanese stayer To The World.
It is expected Adelaide will have a one-start lead-up to the $4 million race.
“As for a first-up run I’m not sure yet but he’ll definitely have one more trial before he goes to the races,” Waller said.
Waller won six of the 16 barrier trials, rating unbeaten two-year-old filly Always Allison as his best of the session.
Always Allison is prominent in Golden Slipper betting but is not entered for next month’s $3.5 million race.
Waller will give Always Allison a chance to prove she is worthy of late-entry status when she runs in the Sweet Embrace Stakes at Warwick Farm on February 28.
