Latest news with #Tivaci
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.
New Paper
27-05-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
King Of Thunder can rule in Derby
BRISBANE A wet track may have thwarted the finishing power of King Of Thunder in his last start, but his connections are hoping a drier surface will enable the horse to show his true colours in the A$1 million (S$834,000) Group 1 Queensland Derby (2,400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31. Trained by John O'Shea and Tom Charlton, King Of Thunder - a Tivaci three-year-old gelding - finished third to the Chris Waller-trained Imperialist in heavy conditions at his final lead-up run in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2,000m) at Doomben on May 17. Ridden by Mark Zahra, the two-time winner came off his midfield position and began to knuckle down to the task at the 250m. He chased Imperialist, who had shot to the lead under Tommy Berry, but could manage to finish only within less than two lengths off the winner. Deep Focus (Michael Rodd) ended a touch better than him on the outside to beat him to second place by ¼ length. While co-trainer Charlton, son of the successful British trainer Roger Charlton, was contented with King Of Thunder's run, he thought the bay galloper was not at his best on the rain-affected surface. "It looked like he was coming to make his challenge and just worked away to the line," he said. "He shows a few more gears than that normally. The comment from the rider (Zahra) was he just got slightly dulled given the conditions. "We were delighted with him the other day. He didn't love that ground and he's probably looking for a bit more of a test, which he will get on Saturday." Fine weather is forecast in Brisbane this week and King Of Thunder will arrive at Eagle Farm well-seasoned, as the classic race at the Brisbane Winter Carnival will be the third Derby he has contested. King Of Thunder finished seventh to Goldrush Guru in the Group 1 Victorian Derby (2,500m) at Flemington on Nov 2, 2024. He then ran fifth behind Aeliana in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2,400m) during the Autumn Carnival at Randwick on April 5. King Of Thunder's connections are hoping the Queensland Derby will be a case of "third-time lucky" for their ward. "He has been running really well in all these Derby races and has a likeable profile going into it," said Charlton. King Of Thunder remains a 5-1 Derby favourite, while stablemate Hurstville Zagreb has drifted from odds of 10-1 to 14-1 after the Divine Prophet three-year-old was beaten into third behind Let's Fly in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1,800m) at Randwick on May 24. The Richard and Will Freedman-trained Let's Fly is being considered for a Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2,200m) tilt. Co-trainer Will has confirmed they will see how the Flying Artie filly comes through the race, before deciding whether to pay the late entry fee for the three-time winner to run. The Queensland Oaks will be held at Eagle Farm on June 7. SKY RACING WORLD
