“Just get us into the Adelaide Cup.”

They were the instructions given by Peter Blanch to Dom Tourneur when he joined connections for pre-race instructions for the Group Three Lord Reims Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday.

In a masterful riding performance, Tourneur was able to deliver on the wish and cemented a Cup start with a comprehensive two and a quarter length win.

Mid field during the early and middle stages, My Ex Mate and Tourneur were able to pinch inside runs from the 700 metre mark and after going just around one runner burst to the front on rounding the turn.

Dashing clear shortly after My Ex Mate was able to establish a two to three length break, a margin which would be comfortably held to the line.

A $5,000 bargain buy for Darrell Ible from the Bridgeview Stud draft at the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, My Ex Mate has now won his connections over $220,000.

The Not a Single Doubt gelding bounced back from a disappointing down the track effort at the same track a fortnight earlier, but there were reasons behind that effort.

“The horse just didn’t handle the humid conditions on that day,” Blanch told reporters.

“He’s a big gross horse and he’s always the first to start sweating in the stable on a hot day.”

“I give all the credit to my vet Brian Agnew who gave the horse every attention to get him back.”

“I didn’t think we’d be running today but Brian said he was good to go and he was dead right.”

“All we need now is a nice cool day and if we get it we’ll do South Australia proud,” Blanch added.

Fellow Magic Millions graduates Talent Show (second) and Waratone (fifth) lost no admirers with their efforts from well back in the field and will relish the step to two miles in the Cup on Monday week.

Now a nine time winner, My Ex Mate is one of two winners for his dam, the Kenny’s Best Pal winner Indris.

She is from a New Regent half sister to Peach – the dam of Group One winners Denman and Preserve. It is the same family of Dark Eclipse, Soul and Lemongrass.

The win continued a remarkable season for Arrowfield Stud sire Not a Single Doubt, himself a graduate of the Magic Millions sales.

Fresh off his flashy daughter Miracles of Life winning last week’s Blue Diamond Stakes, Not a Single Doubt produced three first time stakes winners yesterday.

Aside from My Ex Mate, the others to star were Isabella Snowflake at Flemington and Petty Cury at Ellerslie in New Zealand.

Winner: My Ex Mate
Breeding: Not a Single Doubt-Indris
Race: SAJC Lord Reims Stakes G3 (2600m)
Sold for: $5,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Bridgeview Stud
Buyer: Darrell Ible Bloodstock
Earnings: $220,295
Owner(s): Mrs BJ Blanch, G Palombi, G Gabarretta, P Willis & M Clarke
Trainer: Peter Blanch (Morphettville)