Mapping well for Adelaide Cup

After two runs since a short spell, Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray are pleased with the early preparation of stable star, The Map.

The five-year-old mare returned in stellar form, delivering an assertive run to take the win in the Listed JRA Plate (2000m) on February 10, backing it up with a second in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) on February 24.

“It was an enormous and tough run in the Lord Reims,” MacGillivary said.

“Based on her normal racing style of getting back in a race, we didn’t want her to get stuck in traffic on the home straight.

“Lachie (Neindorf) had her about seven wide out of the home turn and, another 20 metres in the race, the result may have been a little different,” she said.

The Map knows how to win on the big stage after showcasing her talents at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, where she showed a hot turn of foot in the final 200m to win by over 4l under Jamie Kah.

“Jamie will take the ride on in the TAB Adelaide Cup.

“She has a great relationship with the horse and based on the weight we are likely to get, it will suit Jamie,” she said.

The preparation now turns to that very race on Monday March 11 where the stable will contest their first Group 2 race for the 3200m 2024 TAB Adelaide Cup.

“She recovered well after Lord Reims and was bouncing around the track during her light work this week.

“We will give her a bit of time on the treadmill and a swim as the final preparation, but we have her in as good a shape as we can,” she said.