Eclair Big Bang has capped a memorable day for Adelaide trainer Phillip Stokes and earned himself a trip to Perth for a Group One assignment with victory at Flemington.
The Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot in two weeks is on the agenda for four-year-old Eclair Big Bang who brought up an Emirates Stakes day treble for Stokes when he lunged late to win the Emirates Airline Handicap (1400m).
His win in the final race of the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival came after Held Hostage won an early race on the card and then Hucklebuck scored in the Group One $1 million Emirates Stakes.
Huckelbuck had also won a Group race on Victoria Derby day last Saturday.
Stokes has won two Group Ones in Adelaide but Hucklebuck’s success on Saturday was the trainer’s first Group One win in Melbourne.
“We thought they were all in the right races today and if you walk away with a winner you’d be rapt. But to get three is amazing,” Stokes said.
Hucklebuck is heading for a spell but Stokes said Eclair Big Bang was set to fly to Perth on Friday for the $750,000 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).
Eclair Big Bang ($4.40), who was scratched at the barriers in a Group Two sprint last Saturday, took the entire straight to hit the front when he wore down Boristar to win by half head with Fast `N’ Rocking a length away third.
