Latest News

By Ray Hickson

As impressive as Phillip Stokes’ youngster Stretan Ruler was at his Sydney debut, the trainer would feel a lot more comfortable about his Golden Slipper hopes if he can repeat the dose at Randwick on Saturday.

Phillip Stokes with Chad Schofield (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Stretan Ruler made a big statement in winning the Silver Slipper two weeks ago but so far it’s been a year of two-year-olds making statements and few backing them up.

He’s on the fourth line of betting at $13 in TAB’s Golden Slipper market going into the Group 2 $300,000 Darley Todman Stakes (1200m) with favouritism likely up for grabs.

The Pakenham trainer has yet to have a Slipper runner and, all going well on Saturday, Stretan Ruler is set to be his first as he's already exempt from ballot from his last start win.

“I haven’t been down this road before but it looks like an even bunch. It’s a good year to have a runner,” Stokes said.

“Sydney has eluded me which has annoyed me a little bit so we’re going to try and have a bit more of a presence there in the future.

“He’s settled in really well at Rosehill and had a couple of gallops there now, and he’s really coming on.”

Stokes sees his decision to miss the Blue Diamond after drawing wide in favour of the Silver Slipper as a blessing and the colt’s 3-1/2 length win speaks to that.

Jockey Chad Schofield has been putting Stretan Ruler through his paces for Stokes in the lead up to the Todman, work that has focused on preserving the sprint he put on display at Rosehill.

“We’ve got his fitness there, he had a good solid gallop on Saturday on the course proper,’’ he said.

“Chad rode him and was happy, he did a short sharp piece of work on Tuesday to keep that turn of foot in him.

“He’s been a good pickup, he’s never ridden for us before, he’s helping us out and he’s been great.

“I really think the horse is looking for the 1200m so there’s lots of ticks.”

The prospect of soft ground doesn’t faze Stokes and he says on paper he can only hope the race pans out as it did for Stretan Ruler two weeks ago.

“Pretty much a carbon copy from the draw, it comes down to whether he’s good enough,’’ he said.

“He’s got a great temperament, he’s raced on a soft track before and he galloped on a soft track last weekend and seemed to get through it.

“We’ve just got to keep him happy and hope the rest takes care of itself.”

Stokes said he’s likely to send Group 3 placed three-year-old Regal Award to Sydney during the autumn as a stepping stone to a Group 1 goal in Brisbane.

The gelding hasn’t raced since he ran second, as favourite, behind Panova in the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington in November and he had his first jump out for the preparation on Tuesday.

Stretan Ruler wins the Silver Slipper

“He’s a young progressive horse, the ultimate goal for him is a Stradbroke,’’ Stokes said.

“We’ll see how he goes in a couple of restricted races up there in Sydney.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Randwick