Jockey Lachlan Neindorf could not have asked for a better reintroduction to Melbourne racing, landing a Stakes win at Caulfield.
A leading rider in Adelaide, Neindorf previously spent time in Melbourne during his apprenticeship before relocating to Mornington late last season.
He had been the stable rider for Phillip Stokes in Adelaide, combining with the trainer for Group 1 success, and while not officially the stable’s main jockey at Pakenham, he partnered the Stokes-trained Ferivia in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Neindorf now boasts two wins and a second on Ferivia, but was quick to credit Stokes and his staff for the way they have managed the filly.
Having done all the early education work on Ferivia in Adelaide and guiding her to a debut win at Murray Bridge, Neindorf was pleased to continue their partnership in Melbourne.
“Full credit to Phil and the team as she’s quite a hot filly,” Neindorf said.
“I wasn’t confident that she would be able to see out a big preparation.
“I thought she might taper off because she is so hot, but Phil got the pony on her at trackwork and every run that she had, she has got better and developed and matured as a professional racehorse.
“That’s going to take her a long way.”
Neindorf believes Ferivia’s talents may extend beyond sprint distances.
“She has good qualities about her. She knows when to switch on and switch off,” Neindorf said.
“She listens to the rider, and I love horses that do that because they are not one dimensional.
“She’s got a lovely big stride on her and I always thought she had the scope to get 1400 metres to a mile, even though she is from a Street Car family that don’t normally stretch out, but I think she can be on a Thousand Guineas path.”
Stokes was equally satisfied to see Ferivia progress from winning a two-year-old race at Murray Bridge on debut to securing a Stakes race at just her third start.
He admitted he was still uncertain about the filly’s ideal distance after she finished strongly over the 1100m trip.
“Is she a sprinter, is she going to get up further in trip?” Stokes said.
“When we get to 1400 metres, that usually sorts them out, so we’ll see how she pulls up and make a plan.”
