Phillip Stokes: Birdsville Cup success was ‘bigger thrill than winning a Group 1’

Elite trainer Phillip Stokes reckons scoring the Birdsville Cup was a bigger thrill than winning a Group 1, and he wants to do it again on Saturday.

Neodium gallops through the Birdsville dirt to win the 2023 Birdsville Cup in outback Queensland. Picture: Birdsville Races

Philip Stokes won a Group 1 earlier this year but insists landing last year’s iconic Birdsville Cup gave him a bigger thrill.

The renowned trainer who runs a dual-stable operation out of Victoria and South Australia is now aiming to go back-to-back with reigning champion Neodium to line-up in Saturday’s desert dash.

Stokes has saddled up seven Group 1 winners, including Climbing Star which scored in the Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide in April, but said few things compare to being a Birdsville Cup champion.

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Stokes grew up on the Birdsville circuit – a 517km outback track which runs between Birdsville in south-western Queensland and Marree, a small town in the north-eastern part of South Australia.

“I trained a Group 1 winner earlier this year but I got a bigger thrill out of winning the Birdsville Cup,” Stokes told Racenet.

“It’s just so hard to win and it’s a really long trek from Adelaide, it’s quite an ordeal getting there.

“I grew up on the Birdsville track and my dad managed some cattle stations a couple of hours from Birdsville.

“I also spent a bit of time at a place called Marree which is at the start of the Birdsville track.”

Can’t beat that winning feeling 🏆🎉 Relive Neodium’s 2023 TAB Birdsville Cup win @tabcomau@skyracingau@RaceQLD#birdsvilleracesroadies#birdsvilleraces#birdsvillecuppic.twitter.com/kpL4ZEGymb

— Birdsville Races (@birdsvilleraces) September 2, 2023

Stokes not only has fond memories of winning last year’s Birdsville Cup but also of riding in the Cup 35 years ago.

The 2024 Birdsville Cup will again be a family affair with Stokes’ dad Ron saddling up rival runner Trumpsta which finished seventh in last year’s race.

Stokes will be trying to win the bush classic for Neodium’s owner David Brook who is a Birdsville icon and the president/chairperson of the Birdsville Race Club.

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“When I was riding, I came down from Darwin and I ran second in the Cup to a horse owned by Brooksy who I am now training for,” Stokes said.

“I was only young when I rode at Birdsville but it was good fun and the carnival has grown like you wouldn’t believe.

“The reason that Neodium is going to Birdsville again is quite simple really, Brooksy is basically the Lord Mayor of Birdsville.”

Phillip Stokes is gunning for back-to-back wins in the iconic Birdsville Cup. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Former Irish jockey Emily Finnegan rode Neodium to Birdsville Cup glory last year but she is currently injured and South Australian jockey Justin Potter will ride on Saturday.

Eight-year-old grey gelding Neodium hasn’t won in eight starts since claiming last year’s Birdsville Cup.

But Stokes is convinced he will give the 1600m dirt feature a mighty shake.

“I think he’s going better than he was at this time last year,” Stokes said.

“But he has got to carry more weight than last year and he’s got to travel up OK.”

Neodium has drawn barrier 14 and is a $5.50 chance on TAB fixed odds to win the race again.

Ron Stokes’ runner Trumpsta is a $4.60 chance.

Originally published as Phillip Stokes: Birdsville Cup success was ‘bigger thrill than winning a Group 1’