Adelaide (winning at the Curragh)© Photo Healy Racing
Adelaide came from last to first under a brilliant Ryan Moore ride to claim the Sportingbet Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Aidan O'Brien's globetrotting colt excelled in Australia's richest weight-for-age handicap with a withering late run in the hands of his ice-cool pilot.
Despite his lack of experience at the racetrack, Moore was happy to bide his time as The Cleaner took the field along at a fast pace, with Andrew Balding's Side Glance also close to the speed, but Adelaide made his move inside the final four furlongs in the Group One over a mile and a quarter and left his rivals for dead with a swooping charge from out wide.
Fawkner finished second, with Silent Achiever third, but nothing could live with the exceptional winner.
Moore said: "He's a very good horse.
"He stepped out slowly and they went quick early on.
"I gave away a bit of ground (at the start), but he was creeping (into contention).
"He's done it the hard way. Usually the best horse wins, and usually the best horses have to do things a bit tougher.
"This horse has shown what a good colt he is. Things were against him but he's got the job done."
