Neindorf snares treble as Stay Focused ‘makes a mess of them’ in Nitschke Stakes at Morphettville

In-form gelding Stay Focused blew his rivals away in the Nitschke Stakes as gun jockey Lachlan Neindorf snared three winners at Morphettville.

Lachlan Neindorf celebrates as Stay Focused cruises to a commanding win in the Nitschke Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

In-form gelding Stay Focused blew his rivals to pieces in Saturday’s Listed Nitschke Stakes, as gun jockey Lachlan Neindorf snared three winners on Morphettville’s nine-race card.

Scooting to the lead in the field of seven, Stay Focused had a comfortable ascendancy throughout the 1400m contest before the 3YO son of Cosmic Force kicked away on the home straight for a dominant four-length win.

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It was Neindorf’s third victory for the day, capping a race-to-race double for the hoop after a win aboard Serenite Illusion earlier on.

It was yet another feature win for the formidable Neindorf and Phillip Stokes combination, who won last Saturday’s Clare Lindop Stakes with Comanche Miss.

“Thank you to Bennett Racing and the team, they’ve supported me on this horse the last couple of starts,” Neindorf said.

“Obviously they are a big supporter of the stable so first and foremost that was a thrill.

“Phil and the team back home have done a magnificent job with this horse, especially this prep, identifying getting out to a trip and letting him do things his way.”

Stay Focused never looked like being caught in the Listed Nitschke Stakes 😤

A demolition job in the son of Cosmic Force's first black-type victory 💪@LNeindorf grabs his third winner of the day, two of them coming for @pstokesracing 👏 pic.twitter.com/5XVK9rI6Rq

— Racing.com (@Racing) April 5, 2025

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The Nitschke win made it back-to-back victories for Neindorf aboard Stay Focused, after a narrow victory at Moonee Valley in March.

“Last start he fell in, I thought he might be a little bit more impressive considering how things went,” he said.

“Today, geez, he really put the foot to the floor and made a mess of them late.”

Both of Saturday’s stakes races featured imposing performances, with Blue Hotel storming home to win on debut in the Listed Dequetteville Stakes (1000m) for two-year-olds.

The Clayton Douglas-trained filly looks to have a bright future ahead of her, and was given a classy steer by jockey Todd Pannell.

“We think she’s a good horse, she’s a home-bred for Jonathan Munz and the team at Pinecliff,” Douglas said.

“Obviously she’s a very valuable filly being by I Am Invincible, out of a stakes-winning mare (Volcada).

“Her mother actually won this race for my uncle ‘Rocket’, it’s good for her to come and do that, she’s above average and she showed that today.”

Serinite Illusion storms down the outside & scores at a price for dual-license holder @Sophielogan94 💰@LNeindorf makes it a double ✌️ pic.twitter.com/ECYYfc71rL

— Racing.com (@Racing) April 5, 2025

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There were terrific scenes after race six, with Sophie Logan nailing her first metro winner as a trainer when Serinite Illusion saluted in a 0-64 Handicap over 1550m.

The dual-license holder couldn’t contain her excitement when the gelding charged home to score under Neindorf at odds of $16 with Sportsbet.

“It was a really big thrill,” Logan, who has ridden 231 winners as a jockey, said.

“I’m really, really happy with the horse, we’ve had him since he was a weanling, to see him put it together today was so rewarding.”

The Stokes yard secured training honours on Saturday’s card with a double, with Let’s Get Down saluting in the opening race.

Pannell was also a strong performer on Saturday, notching wins aboard Blue Hotel and Riche D’amour.

Originally published as Neindorf snares treble as Stay Focused ‘makes a mess of them’ in Nitschke Stakes at Morphettville