Stokes to have strong Sandown chances
Trainer Phillip Stokes will have three last-start winners at the Sandown meeting.
Done By Me will get the opportunity to chase another win in her juvenile year at Sandown in a stepping stone towards stakes races early in the new season.
The filly resumes in Wednesday’s Ladbrokes Odds Boost Handicap (1000m) against her own age for her first start since winning the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic (1200m) at Morphettville in March, her second win from four starts.
She won a recent barrier trial on the Pakenham synthetic track and is one of three last-start winners Stokes, who has stables in South Australia and Victoria, has entered for Wednesday’s meeting.
The others are two-year-old gelding Sansom and three-year-old filly Too Good Too Here.
“She’s in really good order,” Stokes said.
“She’s a little bit woolly coming through winter but she has trialled well coming into this.
“I don’t think she’s been on a wet track but she doesn’t know how to run a bad race.
“She’s just a real thorough racehorse and always runs well. And whatever she does she will strip fitter and be better next time around.
“She’s had a good break and we thought we’d bring her back and get a run under her belt and maybe we might run her in a couple of the early-season black-type races in Melbourne.”
Races such as the Group Three Quezette Stakes (1100m) for three-year-old fillies next month are on the radar.
“I think she’s a stakes horse so I think she can definitely make her presence felt in those sorts of races,” Stokes said.
Sansom has won his two starts this preparation on the Pakenham synthetic track and will be out to cap his campaign in the Ladbrokes Handicap (1300m) for two-year-olds.
“I think Sandown will suit him and the 1300 metres,” Stokes said.
“He’s really going well this preparation and this will probably be his final run this preparation and I’ll just put him away and might bring him back for later in the spring.”
The Sandown Guineas is a late spring target.
Too Good Too Hard won on debut at Sale in May and returns from a let-up in the Clanbrooke Racing Handicap (1000m).
“I think she’s definitely got good ability,” Stokes said.
“This is harder than her first start but I’m sure she’ll step up. I’ve been happy with her.”