By MIKE DILLON
ADELAIDE - Peter Walker has no intention of taking any advice from his rider Brett Prebble.
Prebble jumped off Bel Air after Saturday's $A125,000 Carlton Draught Stakes at Morphettville and told Walker he did not believe Bel Air would stay the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup.
Walker's main reason for being in Adelaide is to give Bel Air his first trip away from home and to test him at 3200m with the Melbourne Cup in November in mind."
"I'm not coming all this way and not testing him at the 3200m," said Walker.
"Brett may well be right, Bel Air might not stay the 3200m, but I'm going to find out."
Visually it was impossible to judge Bel Air's 3200m potential from Saturday's race.
He was pushed three wide outside the leaders by fellow New Zealand stayer Likely Story and did remarkably well to finish fourth.
That was barely threequarters of a length from the runner-up after being left in front early in the home straight and allowing the opposition to have the last run at him.
"He needs to be buried and have the last run at them," said Walker, who was delighted with the performance.
The race became a sprint home, which would not have suited Bel Air or Likely Story.
The 2500m was run three seconds slower than the Derby a race earlier, but the last 600m was faster than in the Derby.
The Adelaide Cup is likely to be an entirely different matter.
Both Bel Air and Likely Story drew wide barriers and had to work fairly hard in the first 400m to avoid being too wide on the bend out of the home straight.
Stephen Baster having to lead on Likely Story was hardly an ideal scenario.
He later trailed then sat outside the leader before coming under heavy pressure on the home bend.
"He was outpaced in the last 300m," Baster told trainer Frank Ritchie, "but he never gave it away and was holding his own in the last 100m."
The sprint home factor was right against Likely Story, who would greatly appreciate rain to slow the tempo down further.
Rain is forecast for Adelaide midweek.
Baster is staying with Likely Story.
The winner Apache King, from Russell Cameron's Melbourne stable, looked sensational dashing away late in the race, but his form is mixed. He is known for throwing in a blinder, followed by a series of ordinary performances.
Racing: Bel Air to try Adelaide Cup, despite advice
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