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Home-hero and Vic raider face off in Adelaide Cup lead-up

Home-ground hero Hasta La War and equally promising Victorian raider Heart of Grace are the standout picks for this weekend’s traditional TAB Adelaide Cup lead-up, the Group 3 Medallion Homes Lord Reims Stakes over 2600m.

The $120,000 Morphettville event will shed further light on the Adelaide Cup puzzle, just over a week out from the staying classic, to be run on Monday, March 9.

Trained in Naracoorte by Sue Murphy, Hasta La War was gunning for his fifth straight win when an unlucky second at Morphettville on February 15, just behind one of his Lord Reims Stakes rivals, Master Chum.

Hasta La War has emerged as SA’s hottest staying property via a string of fast-finishing victories, including a powerful win at Murray Bridge last month.

Another strong showing in the Lord Reims Stakes would cement the Declaration of War gelding’s standing as among the horses to beat in the 2020 TAB Adelaide Cup.

However, Anthony Freedman’s lightly raced import Heart of Grace appeals as a major stumbling block given his past three starts in particular. Last start Heart of Grace – which started his racing career in the UK – finished second over 2200m at Bendigo, but it was his previous start that underlined his staying potential. Heart of Grace destroyed his rivals over 3100m at Werribee, winning by 12 lengths and suggesting the longer staying trips could be more to his liking.

While Hasta La War and Heart of Grace may dominate the Lord Reims Stakes market, the winning chances extend beyond the obvious duo.

Master Chum has strung together three wins – all for Eran Boyd, who rides again this weekend – that included his last-start victory in the Listed Birthday Cup over 2043m at Morphettville.

Woodchester trainer Shane Oxlade has Eperdument racing in great style, as highlighted by the five-year-old mare’s 2400m win at Morphettville Parks last weekend, when the margin was increasing with every stride. Eperdument is way up in class, but could be competitive.

Liberty Lover, trained by Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas, is an interesting runner, being by Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider. Liberty Lover finished second behind Paul Preusker’s Adelaide Cup hopeful Dark Alley last start and a good performance on Saturday would elevate Dark Alley’s 2020 Cup status.

Murray Bridge’s John Hickmott is the only trainer involved in the 2020 Lord Reims Stakes to have already prepared a winner of the race, back in 2000 with Frenzel Rhomb.

Jockey Dom Tourneur is gunning for his third Lord Reims Stakes win after previous success with Danebar in 2007 and My Ex Mate in 2013. Jason Holder is going for his second Lord Reims Stakes on roughie See the Master, after winning in 1996 with French Resort, which took out the Adelaide Cup that same year.

Selections:
1. Hasta La War; 2. Heart of Grace; 3. Eperdument; 4. Master Chum.

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