Phillip Stokes has built a strong presence in Victoria since moving there, all while maintaining enthusiasm for Adelaide raids.
His Morphettville establishment allows fluid movement of his team between jurisdictions, positioning him well for the approaching Adelaide Carnival and its four Group 1 features, where he intends to contend after prior Group 1 scalps in consecutive years.
Stokes eyes the prestigious Group 1 1200m double of Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) on April 25 and ensuing The Goodwood (1200m) with Ferivia, resuming action in the Group 3 Don Casboult Classic (1200m) over the weekend.
Ferivia was last seen filling sixth spot in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during October.
“She’s jumped out really good going into this and I feel she’s come back stronger, but I’m still not sure where her distance lies,” Stokes said.
“I know she’s got good from 1200 to 1400 (metres), so we’ve just got to work out whether we go down a Sangster-Goodwood path, or aim at something else, but I couldn’t be happier with how she is coming up.”
Opening her account with victory at Murray Bridge in Adelaide, Ferivia then placed second at Sandown before claiming the Quezette Stakes at Caulfield upon arriving in Melbourne.
She rounded out her freshman year by annexing the Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Sandown, accounting for Ole Dancer and Salty Pearl.
“Before she even came over, she’d had a good preparation in Adelaide, but by the time she got to the Thousand Guineas she’d had enough,” Stokes said.
“She still ran a creditable race, and the form has been franked.
I think she is exciting.”
Stokes outlined possibilities beyond Saturday for the filly.
Owning stables in Sydney for the Carnival period means Ferivia could contest the P J Bell Stakes (1200m) at Randwick April 4, or divert to the R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville thereafter.
“We’ll keep everything open as we have horses up in Sydney, so it will be easy to send her up if we think that’s the right way to go, otherwise we could go straight to Adelaide,” Stokes said.
“We’ll see how she goes on Saturday.”
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