By Craig Kerry
Andrew Adkins savoured a career-boosting day in town last week, and he’s hoping to carry that momentum into Randwick on Saturday as he aims for another change of luck with several chances.
Adkins, 27, won the listed Lord Mayors Cup at Rosehill with Peter Snowden-trained Touristic, after an earlier win with Joe Pride’s King’s Secret.
Andrew Adkins wins on Touristic at Rosehill last Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Touristic, which had not won in almost a year, gave Adkins a welcome stakes victory after a tough run chasing city success.
He said a change in focus this season on provincial racing had paid dividends, especially during the winter when leading city riders head to Queensland. Adkins has 56 winners in NSW this season, compared to 37 in each of the previous two.
“It was a great day,” Adkins said. “Any doubles in town are great, especially with a Listed winner, but [after] the last couple of years, it was certainly a great day.
“I had people messaging, saying well done and that sort of thing, which was great to see. I was very appreciative.”
Andrew Adkins after his win on Touristic in the Lord Mayors Cup.Credit: Getty Images
He links again with Snowden for Saturday’s feature, the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m), this time with Fire Star, which was third last-start in the listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone.
Adkins, who won on Fire Star three times last preparation, had the four-year-old gelding forward and three wide without cover from gate seven. Fire Star boxed on well to finish third to inside runners Caballus and The Novelist.
With gate 11 on Saturday, Adkins hoped Fire Star, a $21 Sportsbet chance, could find cover and an easier run.
“It’s a perfect race for him,” he said. “Obviously, not ideal with the barrier again, he just keeps drawing wide, but he’s obviously ultra-consistent and I’ve had a lot of luck on him, and his last effort was great.
“We’ve just got to hope the percentages go our way and we get a nice enough run.
“It was pretty much a straight run to the corner [at Scone], so you’re not really covering too much ground. I would have loved to cover him up from a soft gate, but we weren’t afforded that.”
Randwick was a heavy 9 on Thursday and looks likely to stay near that mark for Saturday.
“His work on Tuesday was great and it was on a rain-affected track,” Adkins said.
He also rides for Snowden in the sixth, a benchmark 78 (1400m), with Flying Thinker ($8), which also placed last-start with Adkins aboard. She was second to Miss Kim Kar at Randwick two weeks ago on a heavy track many found testing.
“She was really good there last start,” he said. “She’s not the easiest to ride, but she’s getting a bit up in trip now where she can probably dictate up front, and I think she races better that way.
“I’ve just got to make sure she relaxes during the run and give her every chance to fight out the finish. She was excellent there the other day on a wet track and she will probably get that again.”
Gentileschi ($6) looks Adkins’ most exciting chance. He was second on the Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained mare, which swooped late to just miss in a reviewed photo-finish with Cormac T at Scone on May 17. She contests the third race, a benchmark 78 over 1600m, where she has gate two.
“She drew really wide and had to cop her medicine back in the field,” he said of the Scone run. “But she just had a horse on the inside pressing her out, and she didn’t really like that, so it took her a while to get the revs up.
“But she was excellent late and at least on Saturday she’s drawn a nice gate, and she should get a much more economical run and probably be a couple of lengths closer. She will be very hard to beat.”
Adkins continues a strong connection with the Sara Ryan-trained How Much Better ($16) in race two, the 1500m Midway Handicap. The gelding, resuming from gate six, had four seconds and a win at provincial level last preparation and Adkins was aboard for all but one.
“He’s a nice horse and obviously very consistent last prep, and he’s been trialling up well,” he said. “He’ll come back in good order. He should get a nice enough run from there.”
He is also on Kerry Parker-trained Elivina ($17) in the fifth (2000m). She was fourth on the challenging Randwick track two weeks ago after consistent efforts at provincial and country level.
“She was really good the other day,” Adkins said. “A really nice staying filly and showed great improvement to Saturday grade from Canberra. And she’s getting out to the right trip.”
