Nigel Blackiston’s dream of qualifying the granddaughter of the great mare Let’s Elope for the Melbourne Cup has been realised.
Let’s Make Adeal won Sunday’s Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington to earn a free pass into Australia’s most famous race.
Let’s Make Adeal
Dennis Marks, who raced Let’s Elope, the winner of the 1991 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, bred and also races Let’s Make Adeal.
“It’s fantastic, especially for Dennis,” Blackiston said.
“He’s believed in this mare all along. We’ve tried for a long time over the past few years to try to get her qualified, but this year we’ve done it.
“To finally get that win, that dream that Dennis and I have had for a long time, it’s a very special time.
“She’s always shown that she can stay … it’s a great moment for everybody. And hopefully the fairytale can continue.”
Sunday’s race was named after legendary trainer Bart Cummings who died on August 30 this year.
And if Precedence, trained by Cummings grandson James, couldn’t win Sunday’s race, Let’s Make Adeal was a fitting winner.
Let’s Elope was one of a record 12 Cup winners for Bart Cummings and Blackiston was a stable foreman for the trainer during that era.
“To win this race after the passing of the great man is a great thrill. I had seven great years with him and it’s very special,” Blackiston said.
Blackiston praised the ride of Dwayne Dunn who rolled forward early to take up a handy position on Let’s Make Adeal.
He angled out as they swung for home to put the mare in clear running and she strode to the front from the 300m, beating topweight Our Ivanhowe by 1-1/4 lengths with Hawkspur the same margin away third.
James Cummings said he was delighted with the way Precedence worked to the line for sixth after settling back in the field.
“This is a huge return to form for him and it gives me a little bit of a spark going forward that he might be knocking on the door for a top three finish next start,” Cummings said.
He said the Coongy Handicap on the way to the Lexus Stakes, or the Moonee Valley Cup, were options for 10-year-old Precedence.
