Australasian Oaks on the cards for Comanche Miss after Clare Lindop Stakes win

Trainer Phillip Stokes is eyeing the Group 1 Australasian Oaks after Comanche Miss broke her maiden in the Clare Lindop Stakes at Morphettville.

Lachlan Neindorf guides Comanche Miss to victory in Saturday's Listed Clare Lindop Stakes at Morphettville. Picture: Makoto Kaneko
Lachlan Neindorf guides Comanche Miss to victory in Saturday's Listed Clare Lindop Stakes at Morphettville. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

Phillip Stokes and Lachlan Neindorf are chasing more Group 1 glory at this year’s Adelaide autumn carnival, and Comanche Miss pressed her Australasian Oaks claims with victory in Saturday’s Listed Clare Lindop Stakes at Morphettville.

The 3YO daughter of Castelvecchio gritted out a tough win over Beautiful Jewel in the mile feature, with the Stokes stable eyeing a play at the $1m Oaks on April 26.

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“She’s arrived to Adelaide in super order, it was a great ride by Lachie,” assistant trainer Kerrin Stokes said.

“She was a maidener up until now, it’s terrific to get a stakes win for Arrowfield.

“At this stage we’ll look at the Auraria (Stakes) in two weeks and then two weeks into the Oaks, she’ll stay here and we’ll give it a crack.”

Settling midfield under Neindorf, Comanche Miss burst into the clear at the 400m en route to a half-length win over Beautiful Jewel, denying trainer Travis Doudle a quinella, who also had third placegetter Swiftie Harriet.

It was a day that saw multiple gallopers reinforce their Adelaide carnival ambitions.

Aviatress signalled a warning to her rivals, dispatching a quality field for a commanding first-up win in the Listed Matrice Stakes (1200m).

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Trainer Richard Jolly will now push on to the Group 3 R N Irwin Stakes after the speedy mare brushed aside smart sprinter Sir Sway en route to a two-length win under Jake Toeroek.

The victory, the mare’s sixth from 12 starts, was a huge step toward targets the $1m Robert Sangster Stakes and The Goodwood this autumn.

“It was a pretty painless watch,” Jolly, who trains in partnership with daughter, Chantelle, said.

“Jake gave her a good ride, he just came back off the two in front, she travelled well and did what we thought she could do.

“I think she’s certainly not at her top today, so it all looks good for the next races coming up for her.”

Jake Toeroek celebrates aboard Aviatress after winning the Listed Matrice Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko
Jake Toeroek celebrates aboard Aviatress after winning the Listed Matrice Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

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Victory in the Matrice Stakes was one of three wins for Toeroek on Morphettville’s nine-race card, the premiership-winning hoop steered the Stuart Gower-trained Darknconfidential first past the post in Saturday’s opener, before book-ending the program with a win aboard Jolly-trained mare Star Sirius in the final race on the card.

The Jollys also took home training honours with a treble, with promising filly Out Of Square saluting earlier.

Apprentice hoop Taylor Johnstone also notched a riding double on Saturday, reducing Rochelle Milnes’ metro premiership lead to six wins.

Originally published as Australasian Oaks on the cards for Comanche Miss after Clare Lindop Stakes win

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