The Phillip Stokes stable enjoyed a day out on Saturday landing five winners across two states including a Listed win at Morphettville in the Cinderella Stakes while Russian Dancer claimed the $500,000 VOBIS Sires Guineas at Sandown.
Celsius Star kick started the day in Adelaide with Jake Toeroek in the saddle before exciting filly Stretan Angel made a mess of rivals winning the Listed Dequetteville Stakes for two-year-old fillies.
Coming off an eye catching run on debut, the well backed local cruised into the race on the corner before winning by almost three lengths on the line with Kayla Crowther in the saddle.
“She’s a quality filly this horse,’’ Crowther said.
“She does every right, we’ve had a big opinion of her from the beginning.
“I didn’t think she’d beat that field like she did, she’s a really nice horse going forward,’’ she said.
Russian Dancer continued his exciting progression to win his fourth race from his past six starts in the half million dollar feature at Sandown before Crowther recorded their third Adelaide win when promising filly Killiako made the step up in distance to beat the older horses over a mile.
The stable is keen to step her up again to 2000m in the Australasian Oaks in two weeks’ time.
“I think she got to the front easily, she’s not a super confident horse so sitting out in front wasn’t ideal and I can see her running a nice race in the Oaks,’’ Crowther said.
Apprentice Gary Lo joined the party in the final race of the day when Shirshov gave the stable their fourth Adelaide win to maintain his unbeaten record in SA.
Australia’s leading training combination Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will also have a strong hand in the Oaks after winning the two three-year-old features over 1800m with two fillies.
Affaire A Suivre and John Allen beating the boys, and stablemate Running On Time, in the Port Adelaide Guineas before Jennilala claimed the Group 3 Auraria Stakes with Declan Bates in the saddle.
AT Port Lincoln on Sunday Ben Price won the opening two races in combination with Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea aboard Fingolfin and Connemara Queen who both secured Racing Rewards SA bonuses winning their respective maidens while Teagan Voorham recorded her 200th career win when Enbarr was successful.
And SA enjoyed success across the border when Not Usual Glorious proved too strong for rivals winning Sunday’s Terang Cup with John Allen in the saddle.
