Dominant Sandown Cup winner Amade may head north for Brisbane Cup

Iron stayer Amade has forced trainer Phillip Stokes to consider a trip to Brisbane after victory in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday.

Amade, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, dashes clear to win the Sandown Cup at Sandown on Sunday. Picture: Pat Scala / Racing Photos

Iron stayer Amade has forced trainer Phillip Stokes to consider a trip to Brisbane after victory in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) on Sunday.

Amade overcame another trademark slow start, missing the jump by fourth lengths, to loop the field in the straight and win comfortably from Ferago and Strawberry Rock.

Favourite Let’sbefrankbaby rounded out the top four.

Amade, known to miss the jump by up to 10 lengths in the past, could be on a plane to Queensland for the Brisbane Cup (3200m) on June 15 at Eagle Farm.

“He’s been a great horse for the stable and left a lot on the bench, the Adelaide Cup with the irons and missing the kick in the Sydney Cup,” Stokes said.

“He’s been in work forever this horse, he won the Geelong Cup (last spring) and he hasn’t been out of work and he keeps on picking up cheques.

“He’s been thrown a lot this horse, he’s had bowed tendons and pelvic fractures … we’ll see how he pulls up, we were thinking if he ran well today maybe the Brisbane Cup, we’ll play it by ear.”

Another Cup for Amade 🏆@pstokesracing's 10YO stayer blitzed them over the final 200m of the Listed Sandown Cup. @[e-mail]/FXFRtLMsse

— Racing.com (@Racing) June 2, 2024

Amade retuned $4.20 with TAB on Sunday.

Stokes credited wife Ayumi for caring for 10-year-old stayer between runs as jockey Daniel Stackhouse lauded Amade’s performance.

“He’s got a great turn of foot, it is probably frustrating for Phil and the team, the owners, he misses the start all the time and he’s lost a lot of races because of that,” Stackhouse said.

“He’s a good galloper and seems to be getting better with age.”

Jockey Daniel Stackhouse (left) and trainer Phillip Stokes celebrate Amade’s Sandown Cup success. Picture: Vince Caligiuri / Getty Images

A steady tempo early and mid-race allowed Stackhouse to tack on the back of the field without too much exertion.

“He really surprised me when he came out,” Stackhouse said.

“He really grabbed the bridle when I put him into the race and I thought he put them away a long way out.”

Champion steeplechaser Stern Idol led up the Sandown Cup field through 2800m but could not maintain the rage late.

Originally published as Dominant Sandown Cup winner Amade may head north for Brisbane Cup