Phillip Stokes filly Ferivia backs up trial form with super debut win at Murray Bridge

Exciting filly Ferivia dazzled on debut at Murray Bridge after she was crunched in betting off the back of an eye-catching trial.

Ferivia and jockey Lachlan Neindorf cruise to victory at Murray Bridge on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

Hype filly Ferivia backed up a brilliant trial win to dispatch her rivals on debut, as the Phillip Stokes and Lachlan Neindorf pairing nailed a dominant early double on Saturday’s nine-race card at Murray Bridge.

Settling handy in third, Ferivia sprinted powerfully at the 300m, shaking off fellow debutant Bardigrub, en route to a cruisy 3¾-length win in a Benchmark 66 (1000m).

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The two-year-old daughter of Astern indicated raw talent in a Morphettville trial last week, defeating highly-touted stablemate La Roux.

Ferivia was crunched in betting, jumping as a $1.80 favourite (Sportsbet), and punters were handed a painless watch.

“The trial was very good, she’s a horse that has kept improving this whole prep, every trial she’s had, she’s come on in leaps and bounds,” assistant trainer Kerrin Stokes said.

“We were confident today, but I thought there were a few horses with some nice ability as well, so maybe she’s got something there. “It never looked in doubt really, she’s a horse that we feel does have ability, and she might just prove us right.”

Ferivia justifies the short quote as she takes over in the final furlong for a strong debut victory at Murray Bridge 😤@[e-mail]/RouFdUdTY5

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A tilt at Morphettville’s Lightning Stakes (1050m) on July 26 is no doubt enticing, the stable won the race with Buddy Bundy in 2014.

“We just wanted to get through today, we’ll see how she pulls up, if she comes on with it – we might have to,” he said.

Neindorf, who also steered stablemate Noetzie ($3.40) to a commanding five-length win, has a big opinion of Ferivia.

“I did her last piece of work on Thursday, the feel she gave me those few times sitting on her, I wouldn’t have expected anything less today,” Neindorf said.

“She’s got a lot of depth, it’s not the last time we’ll see her in the winner’s stall.

“She gave me a sensational feeling. She really extended her action, she’s going to go quite a way this filly, she’s got a fair bit of potential.”

Noetzie was also a dominant winner for Neindorf at Murray Bridge on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

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Ferivia and Noetzie may be on a collision course, with Stokes revealing that Noetzie, a three-year-old by Harry Angel, may also head to the Lightning.

Both youngsters are owned by long-time Stokes supporters, the Brooks family, who also own Stokes’ stakes-winning colt, Matagha.

Returning apprentice Alana Livesey found herself back on the winner’s list, the hoop sustained a broken hand in a fall at Port Lincoln in March, and returned to race riding on Wednesday.

Livesey booted home a double aboard Harley’n’rose ($10) and Headphones ($16), while Victorian hoop Alana Kelly also nailed multiple winners on Fast Bubbles ($12) and Classy Kenny ($20).

Alana Livesey, aboard Harley'n'rose, celebrates the first of two winners on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

Neindorf’s double sees him trail Rochelle Milnes (43) by just four wins in the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership, with two meetings remaining in the season. Neindorf sits equal second with Taylor Johnstone on 39 wins.

Stokes remains in control of the Adelaide trainers’ premiership with 44 wins.

Originally published as Phillip Stokes filly Ferivia backs up trial form with super debut win at Murray Bridge