Trainer Phillip Stokes is confident latest stable acquisition Nostradamus will carry improvement into Saturday’s Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville Racecourse.
Nostradamus will have his second start for Phillip Stokes in Saturday’s RN Irwin Stakes at Morphettville. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Nostradamus began his racing career under the guidance of Team Hawkes in 2014 and has posted a number of commendable results on his way to three wins and two minors through a total of seventeen starts.
Stokes set the son of Medaglia D’oro on a fact-finding run in the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m) on April 9th and while unable to make up the ground on the race’s leaders late, hit the line well and took plenty of benefit from the run.
Stokes told Racing Ahead he believes the four-year-old is looking for 1200m and will continue on to a berth in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) on May 21st should her perform well on Saturday.
“He’s a really nice horse, a nice type of colt,” Stokes said.
“I gave him a run the other day just to have a look at him and feel him out and he’s still a bit big and just blew out.
“He got held up but found the line ok, to be beaten by two lengths and he’s taken benefit form that.
“I’d prefer this to be 1200m rather than 1100m because I think he’s probably looking for the 1200m.
“He’ll be there abouts and as long as he’s hitting the line, we’ll be pushing onto The Goodwood with him.”
Nostradamus immediately stamped himself as a serious racing prospect upon debuting for a comfortable win in the Nursery Plate (1100m) at Flemington in January 2014, and made a competitive transition to black type company when fourth in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m).
Resuming in the 2014 spring for success in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m), Nostradamus continued to impress through a five start campaign perhaps highlighted by a close second behind Brazen Beau in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).
Requiring a few runs to find form when returning in 2015, Nostradamus won the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1600m), but failed to figure in fourth subsequent starts for the Hawkes’.
Ladbrokes Australian are currently displaying Nostradamus at 2016 RN Irwin Stakes odds of $11.
