Impressive colt stands up for Phillip Stokes after favourite scratched at Murray Bridge
The son of Tivaci showed very little gate speed on debut and it was the case again at start number two after flopping out the back from a wide barrier.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
But with the leading pack going along at a strong tempo, it allowed Matahga to get right into the race and he sprouted wings over the final 200m to steal the victory.
Stokes' son, Kerrin, was on course following the victory and was rapt to see Matahga break through at his second race start.
'He's going super,' Stokes, a former A-League player for Melbourne City, said.
'He was very good on debut and he's just a horse that takes a lot of riding to get through his gears.
'Jacob Opperman has had a few sits on him now and knows him well.
'He's a nice horse.'
Matahga was an $80,000 purchase for the stable at Karaka in 2024 and he was able to get a fair chunk of that back with the first placed cheque worth $57,250.
They will look to notch up a similar result later this month with Stokes earmarking a Listed race for Matahga.
'He's progressive, will go to the Oaklands Plate next and it's exciting,' Stokes said.
Stokes initially had the favourite for the race with Ground Control before the horse was scratched.
Nothing is wrong with the talented galloper other than giving the indication he had come to the end of his preparation.
'He's just ready for the paddock and was starting to feel the pinch,' Stokes said.
'So he'll have a good spell and come back as a nicer horse.'
Meanwhile, trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly went close to winning the two-year-old feature with Mostly For Show.
But 35 minutes later saw the duo take out the Racing Rewards 3YO with The Sprinkler.
They also trained the third placegetter in the race with the favourite Out Of Square running on well.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Telegraph
19 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Rosehill Turf Talk: Best bet gets key gear change, plus a $71 tip
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Form experts Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass debate all the key chances at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, including a recently-gelded Godolphin sprinter and a Kris Lees runner that will go around at a massive price. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Shayno: Hello Mitchy. I can't help myself; can never walk past an honour roll. Past Winter Stakes winners that stood out – San Domenico, Nebo Road, All Our Mob. You can go first Mitchy, who will join that list after Saturday? Mitch: Word is you're on the honour roll at a certain Thai restaurant in Haymarket, Shayno. As for the Winter Stakes, tipping it will be Welwal. He went enormous in that Civic Stakes behind Headley Grange and can go one better here. Wet track has to be a huge plus! • Darby tons up as the winners keep rolling Shayno: I am pretty keen on Ruby Flyer. In fact I made him my best bet. I hope it stays nice and wet, heavy would do more without being a bog. He got some very good form at a mile, so 1400m fresh is right up the alley. Mitch: Good to see a two-year-old race back on the program after a couple of weeks without, albeit there nearly all three now Shayno. I reckon we are going to see a very serious horse step out again – that's Raging Force. Tipping he makes a statement and we see him making his presence felt in races like the Rosebud soon. Shayno: This is a 'before scratchings' statement; but wow, what a line-up. I should have learned by now that race experience is gold in two-year-old racing, more so on a heavy track but I fancy one of Waller's bluebloods to run well here, namely the Gerry Harvey-bred Portofino. Mitch: Could we see a Kerry Parker quinella in the Midway? Close Encounter and Equilibrist look to be great chances and they're both double figure odds. • Pride has eyes on weather for Winter Stakes top seed Shayno: I feel like you should be writing this one Mitchy. but I have a Kembla quinella for this Midway too. Kerry Parker's Equilibrist is so close to a win and so far as I see it, Noble Soldier's 'best' beats them all. Mitch: All Kembla content welcome here mate. If we are looking elsewhere, I am really keen on Tarpaulin first run back a gelding. This is a horse that finished a length off the winner in Group 2 company last prep and finds himself in a Benchmark 78 here. The wet track should be no worries for him. • Sistina's a special but still plenty of intrigue for horse of the year gongs Shayno: Whatever happens I hope it is no better than a Soft 7 by the last so my longshot of the day, Valimi, wins. Mitch: As soon as I saw that name in the form guide, I knew you'd be finding it. $71 for the punters. The value for me is Cormac T, race 7. Reckon he bounces back in a big way. Originally published as Rosehill Turf Talk: Key gear change for Mitch Cohen's best bet on Saturday as Shayne O'Cass takes swing at $71 pop
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
AFL round 17 Carlton v Collingwood: Scores, news from MCG
Collingwood has kicked clear of a struggling Carlton as the Blues' season continues to spiral. Captain Patrick Cripps could be seen pointing in an animated discussion with Zac Williams as the Blues trod off the field at half-time, carrying a 24-point deficit. It only got worse after the major break as the Magpies put the foot down on their arch rivals. After a bright start for Carlton, a glaring skill gap between the two sides opened up as an efficient Collingwood took over, with Nick Daicos heading into the shed with 15 disposals and a goal to his name. Daicos was brilliant in the first half despite plenty of attention from George Hewett. While the Blues have found the ball often, continuous errors from the likes of Adam Cerra and Blake Acres put a stop to potential attacks. Amid a quiet season, Blues forward Jesse Motlop had one notable moment in the first term, when he converted a goal and then sat down to recreate the celebration of Liverpool soccer player Diogo Jota, who tragically died this week in a car crash at the age of 28. Motlop sat down cross-legged and pretended to play with a gaming console, reminiscent of a trademark Jota celebration. Motlop hits the Diogo Jota celebration 🎮 â�¤ï¸� ðŸ'° Watch #AFLBluesPies LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: âœ�ï¸� BLOG ðŸ'¢ MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) July 4, 2025 SELWOOD RETURNS Collingwood assistant coach Scott Selwood has made a welcome return to Craig McRae's coaching box, back at a Magpies game for the first time since the tragic passing of his older brother Adam. The forwards coach of the Pies, Selwood has taken time away from the club and hasn't been at a match since Adam's death on May 17, the same day Collingwood faced Adelaide in round 10. Adam's twin Troy passed away earlier this year. A beloved figure at the Pies, Selwood was given as much time away as he needed but he returned to the club in other duties last month. Great to see Scott Selwood back at the club and in the coaches box tonight for the Pies after such a tough year. Collingwood has rejigged its coaches box in recent weeks but so happy to have their forwards coach back at the club as he grieves the loss of his brothers @foxfooty — Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) July 4, 2025 Selwood ran a marathon around Albert Park in Melbourne on June 14, honouring a commitment to take on the hard yards as part of Carrie Bickmore's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer charity. He described the effort as a 'meaningful way to make a difference' and was proud to honour his brothers by going through the run.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
West Tigers coach Benji Marshall denies altercation with Adam Doueihi
West Tigers coach Benji Marshall says reports he had an altercation with stare centre Adam Doueihi during an opposed training session are 'not true' and he's got the video to prove it. Reports emerged this week that Marshall was involved in a heated training confrontation with Doueihi after the pair tangled when the coach got involved in a drill. Marshall regularly joins in opposed work but Doueihi reportedly didn't take kindly to a tackle laid buy his coach. But those reports were emphatically refuted by Marshall on Friday who said it was only an issue because his team wasn't winning. 'I'm not going to add any fuel to something that's not true,' Marshall said. 'I'll show you the video. 'I've been doing it (joining in training) for the last three years and all of a sudden now it's become an issue. 'It's not about me, the way I coach or the way I do things or whatever, there's always a reason for it. 'It comes down to winning and losing and when you are losing these things come out.' After a bright start to the season, the Tigers have fallen to 14th on the ladder on the back of six straight losses which Marshall said would always bring pressure. But he was adamant the Tigers were still on an 'upward trajectory' and wouldn't be derailed by off field noise. 'You are under pressure. But you have to keep believing in what you are doing. Keep fighting for everything,' he said. 'And as long as inside the four walls with our playing group we are solid with what we are doing and where we want to go, then nothing else matters. 'The only pressure I feel is I want these guys to do well, I want the club to do well. 'Coaching is a privilege and what comes with that, you understand winning and losing determines everything. 'Although we have been losing, we are on an upward trajectory. 'If those wins don't start coming, then of course this talk will start happening. I knew what I was getting into when I took the job.'
