Phillip Stokes chasing Group 1 triumph for Stretan Angel in Newmarket Handicap
After a few near misses, Saturday’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap looms as a great chance for the Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Angel to join the elite band of sprinters.
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Stretan Angel will have her chance to join “the elite” in Saturday’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Stretan Angel has finished within a length of the winner in her last three starts at the highest level but trainer Phillip Stokes said the mare could break through in the $1.5m feature.
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“She’s come back stronger and she wasn’t far off the elite last prep so that’s why we’re targeting this race,” Stokes said.
The Newmarket Handicap has been Stokes’s first target of Stretan Angel’s autumn campaign with the Group 1 Lightning Stakes initially thought of as the perfect lead-up contest.
However, Stretan Angel exceeded Stokes’s expectations when second to Skybird in the weight-for-age affair on February 15.
“She was super first-up, even better than we expected,” Stokes said.
The four-year-old is yet to miss a place second-up, winning twice at that stage of her preparation.
Stokes said the Harry Angel mare showed she has improved since the Lightning Stakes while her record down the Flemington straight course increasing connections’ confidence.
“She always runs well down the straight,” Stokes said.
“She’s trained on beautifully since the Lightning and she worked very well again on Saturday morning.
“Her record second-up is excellent so there’s no problems with her.”
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Punters have been quick to support Stretan Angel, backing her from $8 to $6 in the first 24 hours’ all-in betting on the Newmarket Handicap.
The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar is the $4.50 favourite.
Stokes said the remainder of Stretan Angel’s autumn preparation would hinge on her performance in the Newmarket Handicap.
A trip to Sydney awaits should Stretan Angel notch her maiden Group 1 triumph on Saturday while the Group 1 Sangster Stakes and The Goodwood in Adelaide are also possibilities.
“This will be the fork in the road,” Stokes said.
“We could either go to Sydney or go to Adelaide for those races she ran in last year.
“We’re hoping it will be the TJ Smith option but Adelaide would be the easier option.”
Originally published as Phillip Stokes chasing Group 1 triumph for Stretan Angel in Newmarket Handicap
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