Exciting four-year-old Adam I Am was just toying with his rivals in the closing stages of the Coastwood Homes Lockwood Thames Cup (1600m), with his dominance far exceeding his half-length winning margin.
The son of Almanzor jumped well to take an early lead before handing up to Family Ties. Adam I Am enjoyed the soft trip in the trail before jockey Jasmine Fawcett asked him to improve to sit outside the leader, with the pair turning for home on even terms.
Adam I Am quickly took the lead but didn’t create much of a break on his rivals, giving fright to favourite backers, but his class told in the finish. Trainer Glenn Old revealed his gelding was just toying with his opposition and switched off when a challenger didn’t present themselves.
“As soon as he got to the front at the 500m mark his ears were just going backwards and forwards. He was just loafing. He had plenty in reserve,” Old said.
“We were really confident heading into today, he is a lovely big horse. When he gets a fast one in front of him he will keep chasing it, don’t you worry.”
Purchased by Old out of Kilgravin Lodge’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft for $100,000, the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) looms as a lucarative next step, however, Old said Adam I Am will more likely than not bypass the rich feature.
In lieu of the Karaka Millions meeting, Old is eyeing the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa on February 10 and $350,000 Rangitoto Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on March 2.
“We will see what drops off as we go forward to the four-year-old race (Aotearoa Classic). If Desert Lightning or Legarto came out, we would run,” Old said.
“I really like that $350,000 race at Te Rapa in early February, he only carries 59.5kg in that after three wins.
“If he did well at Te Rapa then there is that other race at Auckland three weeks later worth $350,000 for trainers not in the top 10. That would be a good option too.
“It is huge money. He can race for $700,000 in two restricted races, which is great.”