Australia: Skelm, Daqiansweet Junior draw attention in Monday's Adelaide Cup

It is obvious a stakes is a big deal when it has its own public holiday.

Monday is such a day in the state of South Australia in conjunction with the Group 2 Adelaide Cup at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide.

The Adelaide Cup, run at two miles, drew a field of 15, led by Skelm, the winner of the Torney Cup at 1 9/16 miles at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on Feb. 18 to end a two-race losing streak.

Trained by Terry Kelly, Skelm is the 127.8-pound highweight.

In early betting on Saturday, Skelm was the 7-2 choice, a fractionally shorter price than Daqiansweet Junior, who was also 7-2. Trained by Phillip Stokes, Daqiansweet Junior was second by three lengths to Skelm in the Torney Cup, a loss that ended a four-race winning streak.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Daqiansweet Junior will carry 124.5 pounds.

Skelm and Daqiansweet Junior will race at two miles for the first time.

The longshots Dragon Storm and Good Time have won at two miles. Good Time won the 2021 Adelaide Cup, but is winless in his last 10 starts.

Dragon Storm has won two stakes at the distance, the most recent of which was the Sandown Cup at Caulfield in November. He was ninth at 30-1 in the Torney Cup.

Morphettville has a nine-race program beginning at 10 p.m. Eastern or 7 p.m. Pacific on Sunday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.