Ferivia heads return for Stokes in Adelaide carnival push
Phillip Stokes has managed admirably after basing himself in Victoria, though trips back to Adelaide remain a highlight.
From his Morphettville stable, Stokes shifts runners seamlessly across borders, and with the Adelaide Carnival's quartet of Group 1 events looming, he seeks to feature prominently again this term following Group 1 triumphs over the last two seasons.
He plans a tilt at the Group 1 1200m sprint duo comprising the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) come April 25 and The Goodwood (1200m) two weeks on via Ferivia, kicking off her freshen-up in the Group 3 Don Casboult Classic (1200m) this Saturday.
Ferivia last raced when sixth in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) conducted at Caulfield in October.
"She's jumped out really good going into this and I feel she's come back stronger, but I'm still not sure where her distance lies," Stokes said.
"I know she's got good from 1200 to 1400 (metres), so we've just got to work out whether we go down a Sangster-Goodwood path, or aim at something else, but I couldn't be happier with how she is coming up."
The filly began in Adelaide, saluting first-up at Murray Bridge, before a second at Sandown in Melbourne and a victory in Caulfield's Quezette Stakes.
In that debut campaign, Ferivia took out the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) from Sandown, besting Ole Dancer along with Salty Pearl.
"Before she even came over, she'd had a good preparation in Adelaide, but by the time she got to the Thousand Guineas she'd had enough," Stokes said.
"She still ran a creditable race, and the form has been franked.
I think she is exciting."
Post-Saturday, Stokes has several choices lined up for Ferivia.
With runners housed in Sydney ahead of the Carnival, she could head there for April 4's P J Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, alternatively targeting the R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville the subsequent weekend.
"We'll keep everything open as we have horses up in Sydney, so it will be easy to send her up if we think that's the right way to go, otherwise we could go straight to Adelaide," Stokes said.
"We'll see how she goes on Saturday."
Discover the best online bookmakers offering competitive markets for the Don Casboult Classic this weekend.
More Racing News
Matthew Smith eyes Gosford Gold Cup win for import Portland
Trainer Matthew Smith remains optimistic that European galloper Portland is on the verge of securing his first Australian triumph.The imported runner has shown promising form in his latest two races, charging home for third behind Wootton Verni in the Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) and producing a robust run when finishing...
Hollindale Stakes shake-up as Pride Of Jenni gains entry
A change emerged on Monday for this Saturday's Group 2 Hollindale Stakes with Pride Of Jenni's confirmation into the $500,000 Group 2 showdown.Among the 20 entries for the Gold Coast spectacle sits the favoured mare, accompanied by former Melbourne Cup victors Knight's Choice and Half Yours from the last two...
Stern Idol to chase Brierly Steeplechase record again at Warrnambool
Stern Idol seeks to enhance his Brierly Steeplechase benchmark when he takes on Tuesday's $150,000 highlight, the top billing on day one of the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival.Trained by Ciaron Maher, the imported nine-year-old carries 75kg over 3450 metres.He stripped the metric carrying record from Some Are Bent, who succeeded...
Brisbane raid on cards for Sepals after recovery
Cliff Brown, the trainer, is set to continue preparations for a Queensland venture featuring his Group 1 winner Sepals.Sepals claimed victory in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last spring, representing Brown's first elite-level win upon his 2021 return from a Singapore engagement.The primary aim for...
Recon's Hareeba Stakes win prompts Carey Goodwood tilt
While Pat Carey trusts Recon's capabilities deeply, the gelding's debut fifth in a Flemington Listed race left him unprepared for the four-year-old to emerge as a single-digit price in Group 1 company so rapidly.That changed with a brilliant second-start triumph in the Hareeba Stakes, prompting the shrewd Mornington trainer to...
Rex Lipp eyes Ipswich success with El Pensador
Nine races and close to 10 months have passed without a win for El Pensador, but his trainer Rex Lipp anticipates a breakthrough at Monday's Ipswich fixture.This So You Think gelding seeks to follow up an encouraging fresh run in the second-last affair, namely the Seven News BM68 Handicap at...
Back-to-back South Australian Derby success for trainer Phillip Stokes
Phillip Stokes, the dual state trainer, has secured the South Australian Derby at Morphettville for the second year running with an unexpected long-priced runner.Wigmore, in his second race for Stokes following Femminile's $19 upset last season, powered home at $41 in Saturday's 2518m three-year-old Classic.Jockey Teo Nugent notched his second...
Golden Mile victory delivers redemption for Von Hauke
The Golden Mile from last year ranks among the races trainer Cliff Brown wishes to forget in Von Hauke's resume, and briefly on Saturday, he anticipated the 2026 renewal might end up similarly archived.Yet, differing from the prior occasion where the consistently hard-luck gelding was blocked for most of the...
Victorian mare Splash Back shines in Eagle Farm Victory Stakes
Splash Back, the Victorian mare, has her sights set on the Group One Tattersall's Tiara after overshadowing a host of top sprinters to claim victory in the Victory Stakes held at Eagle Farm.Having won the Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley in springtime, Splash Back at $8.50 had settled midfield to...
Bendigo Guineas provides Jordan Childs with latest feature score
While it lacked the $1 million Group 1 status, Jordan Childs relished continuing his hot streak from last weekend by securing a further feature success at Bendigo this Saturday.The sharp jockey captured the initial Black Type race on Bendigo's Golden Mile program by joining forces with filly Gold Coast Belle,...