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Bob and Balf have plenty riding on the Birthday Cup

Saturday’s Listed Birthday Cup is the first of the traditional lead-up races to next month’s Group 2 Adelaide Cup but two of the leading chances will have two completely different targets in mind after Saturday’s feature.

Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas’ Wasabi Bob has been in scintillating form of late with two wins on the trot and heads into Saturday’s race as equal favourite. The five year old is on the Adelaide Cup path and will be hoping to be the first horse to do the Birthday Cup/Adelaide Cup double since Rialya in 2012. Macdonald & Gluyas claimed the 2017 edition of this race with the favourite, Mail It In who then went on to run 11th in the Adelaide Cup. It’s no surprise that leading jockey Raquel Clark will take the ride on the gelding on Saturday as they look ahead to the Adelaide Cup. Clark has a remarkable record aboard Wasabi Bob with six wins and four placings on the horse in fourteen starts. With 56kg, the horse looks perfectly weighted to make it three straight as he charges towards the Adelaide Cup.

On the flip side, Balf’s Choice has a completely different target in mind as his trainer Ryan Balfour and connections sweat on a start in next month’s $5 million All Star Mile. The six-year-old is currently in 12th position on the Leaderboard and a Top 10 spot will guarantee him a start in the lucrative race.  While the mile is Balf’s Choice best distance, he has won over 2000m and no doubt he’ll see this race as a fantastic tune up ahead against a quality field ahead of the All Star Mile.

Last year’s Birthday Cup winner Exalted Lightning returns to defend his crown after a fantastic run in the Strathalbyn Cup to finish just half a length off the winner El Desperado. He’ll start as an outsider of the field in Saturday’s event at $19 but Grant Young is sure to have him rock hard fit and if he runs well he could end up having another crack at the Adelaide Cup and improve on his last year’s sixth placing.

Victorian visitor and equal favourite Excessabeel is in a real purple patch of form recording three wins from her last five starts including two at Morphettvillle. She’s had a month’s freshen up after she was a dominant winner at track in January and while she’s well and truly up in grade on Saturday, she’s in fantastic form and Tasmanian hoop Anthony Darmanin makes the trip over the ride the Matt Laurie trained mare.

Two lightly raced mares in the field have been well respected by the bookies early with Picture Me Rolling ($9.50) and Midoriyama ($7). Picture Me Rolling looks a very handy type from the Jake Stephens yard and is putting together a nice career record with four wins and three placings form thirteen starts. Midoriyama recorded a massive five length win last start at Moonee Valley in Fillies & Mares grade over 2040m last start and while she tackles the boys on Saturday, a win like that simply can’t be overlooked.

Last start winners Silent Warrior and Aagas are also well in the market and have great records over 2000m. Both could potentially have their eyes on an Adelaide Cup start if they run well here on Saturday. Meli Melo is one who has her eyes on the 3200m and while she continues to improve each start from her spell, expect her to become more prominent over the further trips.  

For those with an eye on the Adelaide Cup, make sure you catch Friday Night’s Torney Night Cup at Moonee Valley. This race over the years has seen plenty of Adelaide Cup runners come from it including last year’s winner Fanatic.

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