Mornington track to suit Dick Whittington

One thing trainer Phillip Stokes knows about his galloper Dick Whittington is a liking for firm ground.

And those track conditions are expected on Saturday when Dick Whittington lines up in the Listed RM Ansett Classic (2400m).

The French-bred import will be looking to make it four wins from his past five starts on Saturday, and if successful it will be his first win on turf since joining Stokes’ yard.

Dick Whittington has won three times over the 2200m on the synthetic surface at Pakenham and Stokes does not see getting onto the turf track on the tighter Mornington circuit as a concern.

A member of OTI Racing, Dick Whittington raced in Europe before joining Matthew Smith at Warwick Farm, but after 12 starts, without a placing, he was transferred to Stokes, where he has had three wins and a placing from six starts.

“He came to us from Sydney,” Stokes said.

“They (OTI) thought a bit of him when they bought him and I think he was racing up there (Sydney) on wet tracks and that’s not his go, he needs form footing.

“The synthetic is always the same and he had a real liking for that, and I’ve got no problems with him going onto the grass, so long as it’s a good track, which it looks it will be.

“And we targeted this race hoping it would come up fairly weak and it doesn’t look overly strong.”

Stokes said Dick Whittington had adapted well to his training on-course at Pakenham mixed in with visits to his nearby farm at Garfield.

While successful at 2200m on three occasions for Stokes, Dick Whittington won over 2500m in France.

“So, the trip won’t be a problem,” Stokes said.

“He had an operation for a breathing problem earlier in his career, but it doesn’t seem to be worrying him now and he’s ticking over well.

“Brian Higgins comes in once a week and gallops him. He knows him really well and all the way through, he’s been very upbeat.”

With Dick Whittington dropping from 61.5kg, when last successful, to 54kg on Saturday, Jye Mcneil replaces Higgins in the saddle.