With autumn racing beginning to wind down in Victoria and New South Wales, attention now turns to South Australia, where the Adelaide Racing Carnival is set to raise the excitement over the coming weeks.
The carnival kicks off next weekend, with OTI and the Phillip Stokes stable set to be represented by a promising pair. Exciting new acquisition Wigmore will make his first appearance in OTI colours in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes, and in-form filly Kazaru will contest the feature race of the day, the Group 1 Australasian Oaks. Both horses head to Adelaide off the back of encouraging recent performances.
Kazaru has had an ideal lead up with an exciting win in the Listed Tasmanian Oaks before backing it up with an honest 4th placing in the Group 3 Auraria Stakes. Luck was not entirely on her side there, but she finished off strongly, charging home through the line (2nd best last 200m) to suggest she is right on track for her next big assignment.
She has come through that run last week in excellent order and is expected to relish stepping back out to 2000m. She looks well placed to be in the finish and is hopefully adding another Oaks title to her resume!
Wigmore, a recent addition to the OTI team, has shown consistent improvement throughout his short racing career. From just six starts in New Zealand, his performances and ratings have steadily progressed, highlighting his upside as a developing stayer.
He was purchased following a strong 4th in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby in early March and has since joined Phillip Stokes’ yard at Pakenham.
Wigmore ~ 4th in NZ Derby
Stokes has enjoyed notable success with OTI stayers in recent years, preparing the likes of Daqiansweet Junior, Amade, Deakin, Highland Bling and Femminile.
It’s been full steam ahead towards a tilt at the Group 1 South Australian Derby, with the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes serving as a key lead-up assignment next weekend.
His fitness levels are right where they need to be heading into the race, and the stable is pleased with his progress.
“We’re learning more about him every day, but he’s going along great. We’re really looking forward to seeing him go around in the Chairman’s,” said trainer Phillip Stokes.
With both runners in strong form, the Stokes-OTI combination looks set to make an early impact as the Adelaide Racing Carnival gets underway.