Phillip Stokes’ talented gelding Octane has not put a foot wrong since returning from a spell as he eyes three straight wins in Saturday’s Riziz Series Final at Morphettville.
The four-year-old is two from two this season with both of his wins coming in Riziz Series Heats during October. He’s been sent out as favourite on both occasions and seems to be loving life in his new stable after transferring from the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stables in the middle of the year.
After his two strong wins, he’s going to start as a short priced favourite in the final and rightfully so with his winning form holding up last weekend with Goodgee saluting at Morphettville. He will however have to defeat his stablemate Shamino who is on the second line of betting after his narrow last start win.
Shamino is another new addition to the Stokes yard after joining from the David Brideoake stable at the start of the new season. Kayla Crowther rode him to victory last start but has elected to take the ride on Octane which leaves Jason Holder to take the nice ride aboard Shamino.
Fresh off a Manikato Stakes night double, Will Clarken will look to continue his stable’s good form with Burning the Clock. In a strange twist, this horse actually used to be trained by Phiilip Stokes but since April has been a part of Clarken’s stable where he’s never finished outside the top three. The gelding has always been around the mark in all of his races with one win and eight placings from his ten career starts. He’s never missed a place over the 1100m and with the high quality Barend Vorster on board you’d have to think he could give this race a shake with some luck.
The other major hope in the race is Heaven’s Deal from the Richard & Chantelle Jolly yard. The mare ran a brave race last start against Octane who proved just too strong in the end but will meet him better off in the weights on Saturday. The booking of Raquel Clark is a positive one and if she can manage to pinch a soft lead she could just go all the way with a positive ride.
If any of the outsiders can pinch this race it looks like it would be David Jolly’s Bolt I Am. The six-year-old has won two on the trot carrying big weights and while this is will be a big step up in class, he’s in form and wasn’t’ disgraced three starts ago when beaten by Octane.
Selections
- Octane 2. Burning the Click 3. Heaven’s Deal 4. Shamino
