By David Nagel
Pakenham-trainer Phillip Stokes has been around the block a few times – but a new and exciting venture to Tasmania beckons after Daqiansweet Junior scored a courageous victory in the $130,000 BM100 Open Handicap (2500m) at The Valley on Saturday.
The progressive four-year-old stayer out of Sweet Orange/Paulette has now strung together four consecutive victories, making it four from six starts since joining the Stokes-yard in the middle of last year after a stint with New Zealand master-trainer Murray Baker.
Daqiansweet Junior ran third in a Group-3 at Awapuni in April last year before the making the short journey across the ditch.
The talented gelding has been stepping up in class and distance at a similar rate, with wins in benchmark 64, 70, 84 and now 100 ranging in distance from 1600 to the 2500-metres of Saturday’s assignment.
Daqiansweet Junior started a short-priced favourite, and was ridden back in the field by gun jockey Jamie Kah before taking off to challenge the leaders at the 800-metre mark.
Kah took the lead rounding for home but faced a stiff challenge from In a Twinkling up the short Valley straight. Kah was headed roughly 50 metres from home but dug deep to win by a short-half-head on the line.
After tough but narrow victories at Pakenham, Caulfield, and two at The Valley, Stokes is ready to give his steed his second trip over water in less than a year. The Group-3 Hobart Cup (2400m) – on February 13 – is now firmly in his sights.
“He was strong, he definitely ran it out and he’s earned himself a ticket to Tasmania now,” Stokes said post-race.
“I’ve never had a runner down there but we’ll work it out.”
Daqiansweet Junior is a gutsy fighter, and winner, with his four wins for Stokes coming at a combined margin of less than a length. A great ride and a fabulous contribution from his training team at Pakenham were other key factors in the win.
“He definitely does (know where the winning post is), Jamie rode him beautifully, she was able to get rolling on him and full credit to the team back at Pakenham, they’ve done a fantastic job with this horse.
“He gets to gallop on those good surfaces at Pakenham and he does all his training at the farm.”
Kah was also excited by the win, although not totally satisfied with her own performance.
“He’s a typical stayer, he just conserves his energy, on this hot day he didn’t raise a hair,” Kah said.
“He gave me a lovely ride and the race shaped out well for him, but I probably got to the front a bit too soon.
“If I ride him again, I’d just wait that extra 100 metres on him before we went. It was still a good win but now I’ve learnt a bit more about him I’d probably ride him a bit differently.
“It was really good win, and if I ride him a little bit quieter at his next start he will go through the grades.
“I think he’s a nice horse, he’s a beautiful stayer to ride and the team’s flying too.”
