Adelaide© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien believes Adelaide is the right type of horse for Saturday's Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
O'Brien has not had any runners in Australia since a rather controversial Melbourne Cup in 2008, when his three representatives were well down the field and the stewards called him back to the racecourse after he had already left.
Since then the Ballydoyle handler has been looking for what he believes is the perfect specimen with which to tackle Australia's major races.
He told www.theage.com.au: "The horses that you have, play your hand.
"Every year you don't have the same horses - (a Cox Plate runner) needs to have the right profile.
"It is hard to get a horse that we think could fit the right profile.
"Tom (Magnier, of Coolmore Australia) saw this horse at an early stage and he just thought he could be a horse to do that.
"Tom has been big influence. It is one your biggest races. Obviously we have always been aware of it and I have been guided by Tom and what he thought.
"It is a long way to go and you have to have a horse that you believe could be very competitive. This horse has continued to develop."
Adelaide won the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington before finishing third to Ectot in the Prix Niel at Longchamp last time out.
"The mile-and-a-quarter on a tight track didn't seemed to be a problem for him (at Arlington). The only thing about him is when he goes he is a little bit idle. We might not want to get there (to the front) too early with him, but I suppose on a tight track that is not an easy thing to do," said O'Brien.
