Randwick Double for Adelaide – Torrens Wins Christmas Cup

Tara Madgwick - Saturday December 10

Tough stayer Torrens won the Listed Tattersalls Cup at Randwick last year and the six year-old stallion by Cox Plate winner Adelaide (IRE) was back to his best at Randwick on Saturday coming with a well-timed run to win the $150,000 ATC Christmas Cup (2400m).

Torrens wins the Christmas Cup - image Steve Hart

Now trained by Marc Chevalier, Torrens was let go at 20-1, but showed the benefit of recent racing and was strong to the line for Josh Parr winning by nearly two lengths over last start stakes-winner Bonny Ezra.

Advertisement

Torrens was retained to race by his breeder and has won 10 races and placed three times from 31 starts earning just shy of $600,000 in prizemoney.

Torrens was first runner at Randwick, first city winner and maiden black-type winner for his French born trainer Marc Chevalier, who came to Australia over a decade ago after working as a breaker for the Aga Khan in France

"Eleven years ago I had an opportunity to come and work for six months at Arrowfield," Chevalier said. 

"After six months I decided I'm not going back to France."

Chevalier has been training at Hawkesbury for the past 18 months, but has faced difficulties with flooding at the track which went through his stables, but he has stuck to the task and been rewarded.

Torrens bounced back from a poor showing last start to score his second Black Type win.

"After his run the other day I was very disappointed but his owner, Vincent (Balasubramaniam), he reassured me. He said, 'it's not the first time he's done that, don't worry, just be confident and keep doing what you're doing, he looks great'," Chevalier said.

"He was actually very confident coming into the race today, more confident than I was." 

Torrens is the best of three winners from winning dangerous mare A Little Knowledge, who comes from the family of Group I winner Select Prince.


Torrens has been a good money earner and is the second stakes-winner for his sire Adelaide, who had a winning double at Randwick with Barossa Rosa winning the Benchmark 88 1200m event for the Tracy Bartley stable.

Barossa Rosa makes it a double for Adelaide (IRE) - image Steve Hart

It was the fifth win from 18 starts for Barossa Rosa, who has won over $370,000 in prizemoney.

By legendary sire Galileo, Adelaide is a value option on the Coolmore roster priced at just $5,500 this spring.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Max Brenner Christmas Cup LR 2400m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 2:28.29
1
Torrens
- 6h Adelaide (IRE) x A Little Knowledge (AUS) (Dangerous (AUS))
Tnr: Marc Chevalier Rdr: J Parr 56.5
2
1.8
Bonny Ezra
- 7g Road To Rock (AUS) x Ascolini (NZ) (Bertolini (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Dee 56
3
2.0
Regal Lion
- 4g Jakkalberry (IRE) x Red Delight (NZ) (Congrats (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: S Clipperton 56
4
2.1
Gin Martini
- 4m Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x Tanqueray (NZ) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
5
2.3
Rondino
- 5g Shamus Award (AUS) x Little Less Lip (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: G D Hickman Rdr: Tyler Schiller 53
6
2.4
Pale King
- 6g Dabirsim (FR) x Spring Stroll (USA) (Skywalker (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tim Clark 54
7
3.8
Criminal Code
- 6g Maschino (AUS) x Pale (AUS) (Ad Valorem (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 53
8
4.3
McGeehan
- 6g Excelebration (IRE) x Maid Of Ulster (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: P & M Cave Rdr: J R Collett 54
9
4.8
Dr Drill
- 8g Dansili (GB) x Pongee (GB) (Barathea (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: B Avdulla 59
10
5.2
Warning
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Livia (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: N Rawiller 57.5
11
12.8
Kozluca
- 5g Exosphere (AUS) x Love Her Madly (AUS) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: J Attard & L Keegan-Attard Rdr: Rachel King 53
More Reading...
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Tatts Tiara
With Royal Ascot done and dusted for another year, let's turn our attention to the final G1 of the Australian racing season as some very expensive mares seek to land that elusive G1 and three runners will carry the Yulong colours!
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
Red Right Out Wins MM Queensland Qualifier
The 2026 Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo & Showjumping will feature the third annual Queensland Off-The-Track Cup (QOTT) final on Sunday, 11 January 2026 at Doug Jennings Park on the Gold Coast. 
National Online Breeding Stock Sale online now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Randwick
Trial action was at Randwick on Friday and there were six heats for juveniles that included some interesting unraced youngsters highlighted by the full brother to a promising young sire, a well bred son of Farnan and an Extreme Choice filly.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.