When Phillip Stokes was planning his assault on the Newmarket Handicap with Stretan Angel, he went and booked Adelaide jockey Lachlan Neindorf for the ride.
Stokes and Neindorf combined to win Group 1 Sangster Stakes in Adelaide last year and the jockey does a major share of Stokes’ riding in Adelaide.
With an expected big field, and a large spread of weights, Stokes reasoned Stretan Angel would receive around the 52kg in Saturday’s Group 1 1200m sprint at Flemington.
But a number of the big guns that were expected to enter failed to do so which has seen Group 1 Oakleigh Plate winner Jimmysstar given topweight of 58kg, while at the same time dragging those up that were close to him in the ratings.
That has resulted in Stretan Angel receiving 55.5kg, 3.5kg more than Stokes had been banking on, however Neindorf will continue his association with the mare.
Neindorf partnered Stretan Angel when she finished second to Skybird in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) when resuming on February 15.
“He’s going in with a lot of confidence,” Stokes said of Neindorf.
“He’s riding well for the stable and we’re happy to have him on.
“We originally booked him because we thought she might get 52 kilos, but she’s got a bit more.”
Stretan Angel has only two wins to her name.
She was successful at her second start in Listed company at Morphettville in April 2023 and six months later took out the Group 2 Danehill Stakes up the Flemington straight.
Along the way, Stretan Angel has also run second in two Group 1 races, The Goodwood in Adelaide, beaten by Benedetta, an opponent on Saturday, and first-up in the Lightning.
The Lightning performance showed Stokes Stretan Angel had returned in great shape.
“She came back better than expected first-up,” Stokes said.
“I had her maybe in the top four, but she ran second, so that was great.
“She’s obviously second-up and she loves the straight, but she’ll have to improve as you would expect as it’s a harder race, maybe not that much harder as they were all there the other day and she meets them better at the weights.
“The 1200 metres is her sweet spot, so we’re really looking forward to it.”
