The owners of Skippers Canyon will be on the edge of their seats as the gates open for the Pakenham Cup on Saturday. After slow beginnings at his last two starts, the horse produced outstanding finishes, powering home to win on one occasion and finishing a close fourth the next. His undeniable talent has made him one of the favourites for Saturday’s race.
Skippers Canyon wins first-up at Caulfield.
Phillip Stokes took over the training of Skippers Canyon earlier this year following a series of impressive performances in New Zealand. After several encouraging Australian runs, including a win, Phillip elected to give the horse a spell with this race in mind. While his barrier manners and some wayward behaviour at Caulfield two weeks ago raised slight concerns, his overall form has been most impressive.
With Lachie Neindorf back in the saddle on Saturday, Phillip is confident the gelding can capture the cup. Racing on his home track adds further confidence that Skippers Canyon can deliver on his promise.
Skippers Canyon is the latest in a strong line of quality stayers sourced from New Zealand with the assistance of Phill Cataldo. With the New Zealand Derby only a few months away, we can look forward to more exciting additions to the OTI ranks in the near future.