Top SA trainer to open Victorian base in 2018

Brad Waters - Wednesday September 20

Leading South Australian trainer Phillip Stokes expects to have a new Victorian facility at Pakenham up and running next year.

Advertisement
Phillip Stokes has taken steps towards setting up a Victorian base at Pakenham. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Stokes has won 22 stakes races with raiders from his Morphettville base in recent years but the trainer has secured a parcel of land at the Pakenham racing centre.

"I've bought a block at Pakenham because I think it's a place that will really go ahead," Stokes said.

"I want the best facilities to train my horses on and they are putting in another training track there and I think next year it is going to be a really good training centre."

Stokes said he expects to have stables in place in 2018 and the Pakenham yard will start as a satellite stable before he weighs up whether to expand the Victorian operation in the future.

Stokes said he initially wanted a metropolitan base but was happy to set up his latest Victoria base at Pakenham.

"I'd ideally like to train at Caulfield but they are not letting any new trainers go in there," Stokes said.

"That's why I bought this block at Pakenham and then I'll own it and I look forward to developing it.

"I'm hoping to build a barn there next year and hopefully I'll have 10 there full-time."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Royal Ascot Day 5 – Runaway, Rising Empire and My Best Friend
After five spectacular days of racing, Royal Ascot is over with the finale overnight producing high drama with a runaway G1 winner, the rise of a racing empire and the first stakes horse for St Mark’s Basilica.
Hong Kong Buyer Secures Top Lot June (Late) Sale at $500,000
The impact of the recent success in Hong Kong of horses sourced on Inglis Digital was in evidence today, with the top lot and the third top lot bought by Hong Kong-based owners.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Tassort Filly Too Classy at Randwick
Stakes-placed two starts back in the Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes at Scone, talented 2YO Tassort filly Wollzeile proved too classy at Randwick on Wednesday.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 24
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
One To Watch – Randwick
After impressing on debut, the Chris Waller trained 3yo Super Seth filly Frosty Girl (NZ) took on the older mares on the Kensington track, remaining unbeaten with another stylish victory to become Breednet’s One To Watch.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 23
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.