Talented mare Wakanjeja will try and end 2023 in a winning way when she chases her fourth win from five starts for the Stokes stable at Morphettville on Saturday.
The daughter of Impending tasted defeat for the first time this campaign when she finished fourth behind Struck By at her first try at Listed level in the Christmas Handicap last time out, Phillip Stokes adamant the testing heavy conditions were against the four-year-old.
“The heavy track took her finish away, I thought she ran credibly,’’ Stokes said.
“She’s pulled up really well, we did look at running her in Melbourne, but this looks a nice race for her.
“She’s got really nice ability. We’re trying to get her rating up and all going well she could head towards the City Of Marion Stakes,’’ he said.
The stable has Russian Dancer making his Adelaide debut, Stokes said the horse should acquit himself well in South Australia.
“He obviously won a half million dollar race here in Melbourne, but I’m not sure he beat a lot (of quality),’’ Stokes said.
“He’s been a frustrating horse but if he brings anywhere near his A-game there on Saturday he’s going to be very competitive in a race like that,’’ he said.
