This Monday March 14 the latest Group race meeting to run in South Australia for the season will take place at Allan Scott Park Morphettville, the line-up highlighted by the $400,000 Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m).

One of the few staying races still run over the true two-mile Cup distance, the 2011 Adelaide Cup has attracted a capacity final field of 20 gallopers.

Early favourite in the Adelaide Cup betting markets at Luxbet at a quote of $4.20 is the Mark Kavanagh-trained King Diamond drawn out wide in barrier 14.

Four-year-old Danewin gelding King Diamond is in red hot form having won four of their past five starts including their smart victory in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington last Saturday.

The Roy Higgins win earned King Diamond a 1kg weight penalty for the Adelaide Cup and they are now set to carry 55.5kg, still a nice drop back in weight from the 58.5kg they carried to victory last start.

Just three other horses in this year’s Adelaide Cup field are at single-figure odds to win through Luxbet with Guyno ($7.50), the Peter Moody-trained Macedonian ($8) and Port Adelaide Cup winner Maunatrice ($8.50).

The Lou Luciani-trained Guyno looks King Diamond’s biggest danger in the Adelaide Cup showdown on Monday.

Drawn well in barrier seven, O’Reilly gelding Guyno is coming off some imposing form having run second in the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m) on New Years’ Day before winning back-to-back stakes races at their last two starts.

Most recently the evergreen seven-year-old scored a narrow victory in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville, the ideal prep run for a shot at Cup glory.

Other notable 2011 Adelaide Cup hopefuls at a longer quote that could prove great value bets if they can overcome their wide barriers include:

• Vesper ($13 Luxbet) – Robert Hickmott-trained Zabeel four-year-old won the Listed Victoria Gold Cup (2000m) at Caulfield two starts back before running second to King Diamond in the Roy Higgins, has suffered a blow with a wide barrier 17 draw and has lots of work to do
• Fast Future ($14 Luxbet) – Another runner that has come up with a horror draw, eight-year-old jumping from barrier 18 and coming off a win in the Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m) from February 23
• Lady Avacan ($31 Luxbet) – Six-year-old mare ran fourth in the Port Adelaide Cup two starts back before finishing third to Guyno in the Lord Reims, beaten by a head but has drawn the far outside gate 20

The most notable defector from the Adelaide Cup field was reigning champion Capecover.

The 2011 Adelaide Casino Adelaide Cup is scheduled to run as Morphettville Race 8 on Monday, due to jump at 4:35pm (AEDST).

Other features on the Adelaide Cup Day 2011 programme include the $200,000 Group 2 Yallambee Classic (1200m) and the $115,000 Group 3 Schweppervescence Stakes (1800m).

For the latest betting odds on all the Morphettville races visit our preferred online bookmaker Luxbet today.

2011 Adelaide Cup Final Field, Barrier Draw & Weights