(452) Adelaide Cup-G1

Victoria Park. May 20. $404,140. Open Hcp. 3200m.

1. THE A TRAIN (NZ) (S Baster 50.5) b g 5 Blues Traveller (IRE) - Lady Acumen, by Sound Reason (CAN). Trainer: C I Brown.

2. Homewrecker (NZ) (K McEvoy 53.5) b g 4 Housebuster (USA) - Major Affair, by Tights (USA)

3. Silver Baron (B Fenech 50) gr g 3 Defensive Play (USA) - Azarashi (NZ), by Danzatore (CAN)

Head. Long head. 3m 29.37s. 20 strs.

Click here for Tesio pedigree

 

THE A TRAIN (NZ) (7-d)

Bay gelding foaled 1996

Sold 1998 New Zealand Select Colts Yearling Sale. Price: NZ$32,000

Breeder: S Elias, H Fletcher, A Galbraith & D O'Sullivan, NZ.

Owners: E M & H J Mackley, Mrs J Macdonnell & J Shergold.

Werk Nick Rating: B+

GP Inbreeding: New Providence 5f x 4f.

Age

Starts

Wins

2nds

3rds

2

1

-

-

-

3

7

-

2

1

4

7

3

-

-

5

11

4

-

1

 

26

7

2

2

Sire: BLUES TRAVELLER (IRE) - Bay 1990. Group winner; 4 wins, $987,945, Hollywood Park American H-G2, Bay Meadows H-G2, Golden Gate Rolling Green H-G3, 2d Manhattan S-G1, 3d English Derby-G1, Hollywood Turf H-G1. Half-brother to NANARCH, SURREALIST. Closely related to NEBBIOLO. To stud in New Zealand in 1995 and in Ireland in 1996. Died July 1999. Sire of 97 winners of $5.8 million inc SWs GIOVANA, THE A TRAIN, THE TRAVELLIN' MAN, VERLEI, ASWHATILLDOIS, SUPA BELT, SPs Auckland Blues, Never Blue, Romaylei, Blusienka, also Blue Goddess, Bloodshot, On Time, Mighty Dragon, Blue Bolivar, Abita Blue, Mick My Mongrello, Routine Blue, Traveller Star, Alcide Blues, Charters, etc.

Dam

LADY ACUMEN (1987). 2 wins at 1600m, 2100m, Matamata Highweight H. Dam of 7 foals, 4 raced, 2 winners -

93 Surfer, b g by Crested Wave (USA). Unraced.

94 Instantly, ch f by Spectacular Love (USA). 3 wins at 950m, 1200m, STC Love a Show H, Waikato Desert Sun H, Bay of Plenty Air NZ BOC H, 2d Taranaki Lion Red 2YO Classic-G2, ARC Wilkinson Insurance Mile-G3, Avondale Ra Ora Classic-LR, 3d Manawatu Eulogy S-G3.

95 Spectaculac, ch f by Spectacular Love (USA). Started 3 times.

96 THE A TRAIN. 7 wins, $398,646, 1950m-3200m, SAJC Adelaide Cup-G1, VRC Lady Mayoress P, VATC 1MW-LY H, MVRC Open H.

98 Lurch, b g by O'Reilly. Started twice.

99 Busby, b c by Pentire (GB). Unraced.

00 (Unnamed) ch f by Pentire (GB).

Not served 1996-97 season; slipped in 2001.

2nd Dam

TARA. Unraced. Dam of 5 foals, 2 raced, 1 winner -

Lady Acumen. See above.

Sooth. Unraced. Dam of -

CALM HARBOUR. 16 wins, $376,685, 1200m-2000m, WRC Thorndon Mile-G1, Captain Cook S-G1, Hawke's Bay Kelt Capital S-G2, Russells Akai TV S-G3, Awapuni Gold Cup-G3, Manawatu Challenge S-LR, twice, Levin S-LR, 2d Otaki Maori Terrace Regency S-G1, Wanganui Trust Bank Central S-G3, 3d Waikato Draught Sprint-G1, 4th WRC Captain Cook S-G1.

Winning Endgame. Placed; 2d AJC Carbine Club S-LR.

Balm. 3 wins at 1200m, 1400m, Manawatu Iades H. Dam of -

Calm Crossing. 5 wins at 1400m, 1600m, Levin Winter Cup, CJC Nederburg Metric Mile, Video Village H, 2d CJC Winter Classic-LR, 3d CJC Air NZ Winter Cup-G3.

I'm Excited. 6 wins, 1800m-3200m, CJC New Zealand Cup Trial, HBJC Air NZ Link Trophy, 2d CJC New Zealand Cup-G2, 4th Hawkes Bay Cup-G2, CJC Easter Cup-G3.

3rd Dam

PLUCKY. Unraced. Dam of 9 foals, 7 raced, 4 winners inc -

Danish Courage. 6 wins, 1400m-1900m, Clairwood Juvenile H, Greyville Stewards H, 2d Turffontein Johannesburg Summer H-G3.

Mighty Fiesta. 5 wins at 1200m, 1500m, 3d TRC Fosters Classic-LR.

Fine Leg. 1 win at 1400m. Dam of -

MASAWA. 2 wins at 1225m, 2200m, Geelong Oaks Trial S-LR, 4th AJC Australian Oaks-G1.

Fiesta Time. 4 wins at 1200m, 1400m, ARC Sunday Star Times H.

Statira. Started 6 times. Dam of -

MAINTAIN. 3 wins at 800m, 1000m, Waikato Star Way H-LR, 2d ARC Eclipse S-G3, 4th ARC Fayette Park S-G3.

4th Dam

CALM. 2 wins at 5f. Half-sister to WESTERN FRONT (New Zealand St Leger), SILENCE (CJC Churchill S, Southland Guineas, WRC Wellesley S), HAPPY MEDIUM (Mornington Cup, twice, 2d VRC Oaks), Perfect Peace (2d New Zealand St Leger, 3d Great Northern Oaks), and to the dams of DORMANT (New Zealand Cup), Faloose (3d New Zealand Derby), Liberty. Dam of 9 foals, 8 raced, 6 winners inc -

GAME. 26 wins, 5-1/2f-10f, Bay of Plenty Stars Travel Invitation S, Awapuni Gold Cup, CJC Churchill S, twice, Manawatu Challenge S, twice, Hawkes Bay Ormond Memorial Gold Cup, 3 times, Te Aroha Thames Valley S, Wanganui Guineas, Jackson S, twice, Hawkes Bay Guineas, WRC Harcourt S, CJC Canterbury Gold Cup, 2d Bay of Plenty Stars Travel Invitation S, WRC Harcourt S, North Island Challenge S, twice, Awapuni Gold Cup, CJC Churchill S, 3 times, WRC Wellington Guineas, Waikato NZ International Invitation S, twice, Awapuni Gold Cup, Manawatu Chellenge S, 3d Awapuni Gold Cup, WRC Wellington S, CJC Stewards H, 4th CJC Churchill S.

COOL. 14 wins, 6-1/2f-11f, WRC Thompson H, 2d Hawkes Bay Cup, 3d ARC Christmas H.

The A Train proved the one to catch in the 132nd Adelaide Cup to provide Cliff Brown with another winner in a major Morphettville race, the others being three South Australian Derbys in five years with Cheviot, Markham and Blue Murder. In a drama charged finish, the Stephen Baster partnered The A Train defeated Housebuster's son Homewrecker, South Australian Derby runner- up Silver Baron and Lord Reims Stakes-Gr.3 winner Firetaine another nose away. Caught wide around midfield early on from barrier 18 but, on instruction to ride a natural stayer aggressively, Baster moved him closer to the lead in about fifth and wore Homewrecker down. Silver Baron was the hard luck story of the race and along with Majestic Avenue (fifth) copped the worst of a traffic jam near the 600m.

The horse is well named for the great Duke Ellington jazz tune (Take)  The A Train as he is  by deceased Blues Traveller. He provided the first major win for Hilton and Eileen Mackley since Secured Deposit landed the 1984 Wellington Cup in a similarly dramatic finish with Isle of Man. Neville Atkins prepared Secured Deposit and the also high class Ring the Bell for the Mackley family and tutored The A Train in his early career. He was bred by Dave O'Sullivan, Rich Hill director Alan Galbraith, chief justice Sian Elias and her husband Hugh Fletcher, former head of Wrightson owner Fletcher Challenge. The NZ Select yearling was bought by agent Henry Plumptre at $NZ32,000.