Pakenham trainer Phillip Stokes to test All Woke in Quezette Stakes at Caulfield

“Woke” isn’t a term that is generally compatible with racing but Pakenham trainer Phillip Stokes wouldn’t mind if All Woke prevails in Saturday’s Quezette Stakes at Caulfield.

Quezette Stakes contender All Woke could be the first of a wave of successful fillies for Pakenham trainer Phillip Stokes in the spring.

Stokes won the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes in Adelaide with Climbing Star before that mare and her stablemate Stretan Angel filled the minor placings in The Goodwood in Adelaide in the autumn.

• Early Oil for Caulfield: Best bet in PB Lawrence

Climbing Star and Stretan Angel will be back to chase top level sprints in the spring but All Woke could be part of a smart three-year-old brigade for Stokes in the coming months.

“We’ve got a really nice bunch of fillies and mares this spring,” Stokes said.

“All Woke has done well in the spell and even a horse like The Dabble Effect, who went over to Adelaide and ran second in a Group race could continue to improve.

“Then we’ve got Femminile, who’s a nice staying filly that will try to get to a race like the Wakeful (Stakes) later on.”

All Woke had two starts as a two-year-old last season, winning narrowly on debut at Morphettville before running a sound third in the Listed Dequetteville Stakes in April.

Stokes said the All Too Hard filly had developed in her time off but he had altered his routine when preparing All Woke for Saturday’s Caulfield contest.

Group 1 winner Climbing Star will spearhead trainer Phillip Stokes’s strong team of fillies and mares in the spring. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

“She’s had three jumpouts, Stokes said.

“We usually only give our horses two but we’ve got her further forward for this race.

“In her last jumpout, she was in against a couple smart ones like Savannah Cloud and she went terrific.

“She’s strengthened up in her time off and I’m really happy with her.”

• ‘Impressive’ Kiwi mare to debut for Price and Kent Jr

Stokes said the Quezette Stakes would partly be a learning experience for All Woke’s connections, helping them determine the filly’s immediate direction in the early part of the spring.

“I’m not sure where her best distance lies and we’re just feeling out where she lies too,” Stokes said.

“I’m hoping she’s up to them.”

TAB rated All Woke at $15 in early Quezette Stakes betting.

Blue Diamond Stakes placegetter Kuroyanagi is the $2.80 favourite after the withdrawal of the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Arabian Summer on Thursday.

Originally published as Pakenham trainer Phillip Stokes to test All Woke in Quezette Stakes at Caulfield