Trainer Phillip Stokes will not be aiming too high with Savannah Cloud who makes his racetrack return at Flemington.
Stokes has picked out the Listed The Elms Stakes (1400m) on Saturday as the ideal lead into another 1400m race at Flemington on March 9, the Group 3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap.
Savannah Cloud has been a model of consistency throughout his career winning eight of his 29 starts with a further 14 placings, registering over $610,000 in prize money for his connections.
Stokes said Savannah Cloud was not quite up to the top echelon of horses during the autumn and has picked his marks in what he believes are suitable races.
Last spring Savannah Cloud was able to win first-up in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m) and chased home Buffalo River in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m), both at Caulfield.
Stokes tested Savannah Cloud at Group 1 level in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield, where he ran down the track, before winding up his spring finishing near the tail in the Group 2 Damien Oliver Stakes (1400m) during Melbourne Cup week.
“He runs on Saturday, and I think that is a nice lead-up to another 1400-metre Stakes race a couple of weeks later,” Stokes said.
“He’s had a couple of jump-outs, which have been good, and Saturday’s race is about his level.
“His spring campaign was OK.
“He won a Stakes race, ran well in another, but then showed he wasn’t quite up to the top level.
“This is where he is better suited, and 1400 metres is probably as far as he wants also.”
Savannah Cloud is currently a $23 chance in early markets that sees the Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar a $1.50 favourite as he shoots to extend his unbeaten Australian record to four in Saturday’s race.
