Spring plans are beginning to take shape for two of Stokes Racing’s talented stayers, with Deakin and Highland Bling both trialling very well at Caulfield on Wednesday morning ahead of their respective campaigns with both horses have exciting targets in their sights
For Deakin, his second trial of the preparation provided plenty of encouragement. The talented stayer worked strongly to the line and continued to find plenty past the post.
Jockey Lachy Neindorf was particularly taken with the performance.
“He’s absolutely flying. We only really got through nearing the 200 and he showed a really good turn of foot. He was the best out of anything in that trial late.”
It was a pleasing return for the gelding, who missed last year’s Melbourne Cup after a setback forced him to the sidelines despite earning his golden ticket into the race.
Trainer Phillip Stokes is delighted with the way Deakin has returned, believing the stayer is going better than he was last preparation.
“I’m very happy with the horse. He’s going better than last prep. We’re right on track.”
Deakin’s spring campaign is set to begin in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday week, before stepping up to Group 3 level in the Naturalism Stakes second-up.
He will then have his sights set on the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington two weeks later, with the campaign ultimately building towards his major target, the Group 1 Caulfield Cup on October 17.
Note: The trial caller has mixed up Deakin and Highland Bling in the commentary. The horses are correctly identified in the video.
Highland Bling was having his first trial of the preparation, with connections hoping to see a solid return without being asked to do too much work.
The Irish-bred stayer travelled comfortably throughout and worked through his gears, with the speed coming late in the trial. While he was passed by a couple of runners in the closing stages, his best work came through and past the line.
Jockey Luke Cartwright was pleased with what his performance.
“For a two-miler and his first trial back, I thought it was a really good trial.”
Highland Bling enters the spring off a highly consistent autumn campaign. He was beaten by just a nose in both the Group 2 Adelaide Cup and Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes, before producing a huge effort to finish third in the Group 1 Sydney Cup.
His Queensland winter campaign failed to go to plan, with little luck in his races, but the break has given him an opportunity to return to the track fresh and ready to fire this spring.
He will have a second trial in approximately two weeks before likely making his return in a 1700m Handicap at Flemington on September 12.
From there, the likely path is towards the Group 3 Bart Cummings second-up before stepping into the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup two weeks later.
Should he continue to progress through the spring, the possibility of seeing Highland Bling line up in the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November is an exciting prospect.
With both stayers returning in good order, the coming weeks will provide a clearer picture of just how far their spring campaigns can take them.