Tasmanian trainer Walter McShane will be after the biggest win of his career with Norsqui in Monday’s Group Two $400,000 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.
The five-year-old was bred by Broadmarsh-based McShane who stands his sire Matsqui.
The trainer has retained a share in the diminutive gelding who has won seven races including three in Victoria, two with Cup jockey Chris Symons aboard.
He won a 2400m race at Sandown in May last year, a $100,000 2800m event at Flemington on 2011 Melbourne Cup Day and the Listed $300,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) at his most recent start on February 15.
His only try at 3200m was when third to Olympic Win in the Sandown Cup last spring.
“He’s a very narrow horse. He weighs only 422 kilograms and has always been lightly-framed but he races best that way,” McShane said.
“He’s up 2kg (to 56kg) though which makes it hard as does the wide draw (barrier 19 of 20).
“I was quite surprised that Drunken Sailor didn’t get a penalty. I thought they would have acknowledged the Roy Higgins Quality win and given him at least half a kilo.”
Drunken Sailor carried 60kg to beat Our Serena, Rowland and Persian Star in the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington on March 3.
Formerly prepared by Luca Cumani, Drunken Sailor ran 12th to Dunaden in the 2011 Melbourne Cup before being transferred to Mike Moroney.
The seven-year-old has raced well this preparation with two placings and a win from three starts.
The gelding worked home well under 60kg to finish 2-1/2 lengths second in the Mornington Cup and meets Norsqui 2.5kg better at the weights on Monday.
Drunken Sailor, to be ridden by Damien Oliver, carries 59.5kg in the Cup and has to jump from the outside gate (20) and must set a modern-day weight carrying record.
The last horse to win an Adelaide Cup with that much weight was King Ingoda who carried 60.5kg in 1923.
Norsqui, who stays at the Aquanita stables at Caulfield when he visits the mainland, was to be floated over to Adelaide with the Robert Smerdon-trained pair Saddler’s Story and Persian Star.
Saddler’s Story, beaten a long-neck when runner-up to Muir in last year’s Cup, was fifth in the Roy Higgins Quality.
Drunken Sailor is $4.20 favourite ahead of Hanks at $4.80 with Norsqui and Saddler’s Story at $9, Persian Star at $10 and
Group Three Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) winner Enchanting Waters at $14.
AAP TURF
