Kensington Stakes: Phillip Stokes eyes Group 1 targets with Mileva

Phillip Stokes will aim higher with improving mare Mileva after she continued her good form for her new trainer in the Kensington Stakes.

Mileva will get her chancein Group 1 sprints after winning the Kensington Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

Phillip Stokes will plot a course towards the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate next year after Mileva posted a strong win in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

In only her third start for the Stokes camp — two wins and a third in the Group 3 Begonia Belle — the four-year-old daughter of Headwater put a margin on Parsifal and Flemington specialist Halvorsen.

Stokes will consider the Group 3 Standish Handicap at Flemington on January 15 as a stop towards the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 26.

“Mares in form, you just keep ticking them over,” Stokes said.

“I don’t see any reason to tip them out when they’re going so well.”

Mileva and @bennallen44 for @pstokesracing take out the Kensington Stakes!! pic.twitter.com/4GtTIPnxir

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) December 11, 2021

The electric mare was six weeks between runs going to Flemington and thrived.

“She’s a mad fresh horse and spends most of her time up at our farm and ticks over up there on the hill track and in the pool,” Stokes said.

“We don’t jump her out between runs, she doesn’t need it, she’s very clean winded and that’s the key to her.

“We’ll keep her ticking over and look towards the Oakleigh Plate in February and then maybe onto a Robert Sangster (TAB Classic in Adelaide).”

Gun jockey Ben Allen summed up the race perfectly, stalking leaders Sartorial Splendor and Parsifal until the last 200m.

South Australian-trained Parsifal gripped on for second while Halvorsen launched out of the pack for third.

Jamie Kah-ridden favourite Tequila Time rounded out the top four.

Ben Allen pilots Mileva to victory in the Kensington Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

“Full credit to Ben, he gave her a lovely ride, summed it up beautifully and got her across to the middle and outside where we wanted to be,” Stokes said.

“Very happy for Michael Birchall (Mileva’s owner), he’s getting a big thrill out of this.”

Birchall bought Mileva, who won four races in South Australia for co-trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray, including the Listed Manihi Classic, as a future broodmare prospect.

“She has significantly gone up in value,” Stokes beamed.

“I’d hate to think what she’s worth now.”

Allen, who rides regularly for Stokes and Victorian powerhouse trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, was thrilled to take out the Legends Race Day feature.

“I’m not getting many rides in town (but) I’m still getting good opportunities,” Allen said.

“I can’t thank the Phillip Stokes enough and Ciaron (Maher) and Dave (Eustace) for giving me a good go.

“Hopefully I can continue to build and get more rides at these city meetings, it’s a bit harder because I’m a bit taller but I’ve just got to do what I can.”

TAB BETTING REPORT – FLEMINGTON

RACE 1

Stupendo bolted into Magic Millions calculations with the Danny O’Brien colt moving from $26 into $15 after opening at $201 for next month’s two-year-old classic on the Gold Coast. Stupendo ($5) had 22 per cent of the market and started equal second favourite behind Kumicho at $4.80.

BETS: Stupendo $2,000 @ $5 (multiple times)

RACE 2

Damien Olivier guided Brasada ($14) past heavily backed favourite Eluding ($2.15) in the second. Eluding dominated betting with close to 70 per cent support while Brasada defied a drift of $8 out to $15 before jumping at $14.

BETS: Brasada $500 @ $14

RACE 3

Punters were focused on Dance To Dubai ($4.20) and Modear ($5.50), who had opened at $11 during the week, but both finished out of the placings in the third. Florescent Star winning second up again at $5.50, in from $7, but with only 10 per cent of the market interest.

BETS: Florescent Star $2,000 @ $7, $2,000 @ $6.50, $1,500 @ $6.50

RACE 4

Punters saw what they liked with Seawhatyouthink a big result their way at $3.20.

The favourite was a popular winner with 40 per cent of the money and multiple $1,000 bets at the $3.70 price after opening at $4.40.

BETS: Seawhatyouthink $2,500 @ $3.30, $2,000 @ $3.30, $1,500 @ $3.40

RACE 5

Philadelphia Storm’s victory for Michael Moroney was the second winner at double figures.

At $16, he attracted only 5 per cent of the market as Arran Bay and Guardian Spirit battled for favouritism, although one punter landed the winner at $19/$4.60 each-way for a $1,000 outlay.

BETS: Philadelphia Storm $1,000 e/w @ $19 $ $4.60

RACE 6

Matthew Cartwright and American bred mare, Lighthouse, denied Moroney back-to-back winners with the heavily supported $2.25 favourite too strong for Bermadez ($3.60).

The duo dominated betting with the Maher-Eustace trained Lighthouse holding 52 per cent before recording her third straight win.

BETS: Lighthouse $6,000 @ $2.30, $2,500 @ $2.30, $2,000 @ $2.30 (multiple times)

RACE 7

Mileva’s impressive form for Phillip Stokes continued with the second favourite claiming the Kensington Stakes at $4.80 having tightened from a $6.50 opening price but starting at $4.60. Savvy punters snapped up the value early with a $10,000 bet taken at $5.50 and a $9,000 outlay at $5. Tequila Time jumped favourite at $4 with over 30 per cent of the market despite late money for Sartorial Splendor at $9.

BETS: Mileva $10,000 @ $5.50, $9,000 @ $5

RACE 8

The betting was open in the Gary Fennessy Handicap with Linda Meech guiding Five Kingdom to a drought breaking victory at $8.50 for Matthew Dale. Having been $21 during the week, Five Kingdom opened at $10 but got out to $11 with just eight per cent of the punter’s support. Good And Proper was the $6 favourite with 25 per cent.

BETS: Five Kingdom $1,000 @ $11, $1,000 @ $9

RACE 9

It was another win that was a long time coming in the last, with Pioneer River rewarding loyal backers by claiming the Darren Gauci Trophy at $4.60 for the Maher-Eustace team.

Kentucky Casanova was the best backed with 25 per cent, to Pioneer River’s 15 per cent.

BETS: Pioneer River $3,000 @ $4.40, $2,500 @ $4.40, $2,000 @ $4.60

Originally published as Kensington Stakes: Phillip Stokes eyes Group 1 targets with Mileva