Latest news with #Matahga
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Matahga storms home for come-from-behind victory in Oaklands Plate at Morphettville Parks
Phillip Stokes has unearthed another exciting youngster after Matahga produced a huge come-from-behind win to nail Saturday's Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate at Morphettville Parks. Hard ridden, 10 lengths off the lead turning for home, Matahga, showed his class edge, reeling in Hayes-trained fancy Ethereum Girl as he charged home in the final 50m. It saw Stokes claim back-to-back Oaklands Plates, after the stable won last year's race with SA Derby winner Femminile. 'He's a nice colt this horse, (he) dug deep, he's come a long way this prep,' Stokes said. 'Kerrin and Tommy have done a fantastic job with him, he'll go for a break now, I think he deserves to be aimed some of the nicer races in the spring.' The win was the first of a race-to-race double for jockey Jacob Opperman, who nailed a brilliant treble on the program with other wins aboard Test The Law and Fiasco Tess. The hoop elected to save ground aboard Matahga, navigating traffic rather than peeling to the outside. It left Stokes with his heart in mouth momentarily, but it proved to be the right rein. Matahga digs deep for a stirring come-from-behind victory at Morphettville Parks to make it back-to-back wins ðŸ'¥ @pstokesracing picks up a Morphettville Parks double ✌ï¸� @JOpperman15 — (@Racing) June 28, 2025 'We were sort of cursing him there for awhile, we thought maybe he should have went around them, but he rode it very well,' he said. 'He'll take a lot out of it this colt, he's a nice horse going forward, I'm just rapt for the Brook's family.' Paul Trenwith pulled off an upset win with Ginger Sinner early on, the Morphettville trainer bought the gelding for $15,000, and has now nailed two wins from five starts with him, most notably Saturday's Benchmark 72 (1250m) over stakes winner Colmar. The son of Castelvecchio jumped at $21 with Sportsbet, and was guided to the line under promising apprentice Caitlin Tootell. The roughies continued their dominance in the following race, with Left Turn Clyde charging home to produce a blowout result at $27 over 1000m. It's a grandstand finish at Morphettville Parks! ðŸ'¸ Left Turn Clyde storms home from a long way back to get across the line first for his second win this season ðŸ'° @mattLchadwixk — (@Racing) June 28, 2025 The Stuart Gower-trained gelding jumped awkwardly to find himself well back, before in-form hoop Matthew Chadwick worked his way through the field, piercing a gap at the 100m. Left Turn Clyde nosed out rivals Madam Jeanette and Rich Gina in a three-way go on the line. Sir Now once again showed his will to win, the tough gelding hunted down Beast Mode to nail a Benchmark 80 over 1000m, his seventh win from 13 starts for Karoonda handler Darryl Hewitt. Six of those wins have been under the steering of talented apprentice Maggie Collett, who piloted the gelding again on Saturday. The day belonged to Opperman, however, who was unrivalled in the saddle with his three winners, while the Stokes yard were the dominant stable with two wins, with Nicish also saluting in the opening race.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Matahga aiming to replicate success of Derby winners in Oaklands Plate at Morphettville Parks
The last two winners of the Oaklands Plate have since achieved Group 1 glory, and Saturday's race favourite, Matahga, is out to prove he's on that trajectory. The impressive colt won the Racing Rewards 2YO Plate (1200m) at Murray Bridge last start, and is out to nail consecutive Oaklands Plate's for trainer Phillip Stokes, who saddled up last year's winner, Femminile. Femminile pulled off a brilliant win in May's $1m SA Derby (2500m), while staying filly Coco Sun, also pulled off a Oaklands Plate-Derby double in 2023-24. Matahga, a son of Tivaci, is only two starts into his career, but is giving the indication that he fits a similar mould. 'To be honest, I think he's shown more than Femminile, obviously Femminile improved a heap, so he's going to have to do the same,' assistant trainer Tommy Stokes said. 'He'll look at a similar path, he's got stayer written all over him, he settles so well in his trackwork and his races, he's going to eat up a bigger trip for sure.' Matahga comes from a long way back & finishes the strongest in a promising maiden win ðŸ'¥ @pstokesracing — (@Racing) June 14, 2025 • Matahga produced an eye-catching last 200m to run down his rivals in the Racing Rewards feature on June 14, after his debut outing saw him charge home for second. 'That was the race we wanted to win, leading into the first start we thought they were going to be way too sharp for him, but he really stuck on well and nearly won the race,' he said. 'He improved again second-up, we reckon 1400m is going to be perfect, the Parks track is probably not going to be to his liking, but the distance definitely will be. 'He's come through it (last start) really well, I think he's improved again, he'll run a real good race if he's not too far off them as they straighten up. 'He's one of our nicer 2YOs, and he's not just a 2YO, he's got scope, that's what is most exciting about him.' Jacob Opperman has piloted the colt in his previous two starts, and will steer again on Saturday from barrier nine at Morphettville Parks. 'I think Jacob suits him well, he rode him on debut when Lachie (Neindorf) was in Victoria,' he said. 'He's started to help us out at trackwork on various mornings, and if he continues to do that he can keep the rides.' Matahga impresses running away with the Magic Millions Racing Rewards SA 2YO Plate at Murray Bridge 🚀 Congratulations to the Brook family @GaryBrook18 | @RacingSA — Phillip Stokes Racing (@pstokesracing) June 14, 2025 Matahga ($2.80 Sportsbet) will be accompanied by stablemate Kazaru in Saturday's Oaklands Plate (1400m). The filly, a half-sister to 2022 Adelaide Cup winner Daqiansweet Junior, is at the other end of the market, with an eighth-placed finish at Geelong her only start. 'She's improved a heap off her debut run,' Stokes said. 'She's obviously 100-1, so the form doesn't stack up, she was beaten a fair way. 'She'll appreciate distance and we are obviously trying to sneak black type for the pedigree.'
The Australian
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Impressive colt stands up for Phillip Stokes after favourite scratched at Murray Bridge
Trainer Phillip Stokes looks to have a handy colt in his stable following Matahga's impressive victory in the Magic Millions Racing Rewards SA 2YO (1000m) 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.
News.com.au
14-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Matahga wins Magic Millions Racing Rewards 2YO at Murray Bridge
Trainer Phillip Stokes looks to have a handy colt in his stable following Matahga's impressive victory in the Magic Millions Racing Rewards SA 2YO (1000m) 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. 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. Matahga comes from a long way back & finishes the strongest in a promising maiden win ðŸ'¥ @pstokesracing — (@Racing) June 14, 2025 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.
