Stokes to improve on Victorian strike rate

Tuesday 17 March 2015, 2:45pm

When Adelaide trainer Phillip Stokes makes the trip to Victoria he rarely goes home without a winner.

He's hoping that's the case again on Saturday with a team of three horses heading to Bendigo for the metropolitan class meeting.

Stokes won four races at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival capped by the Group One Emirates Stakes victory of Hucklebuck and also has fond memories of Bendigo.

"It's a lovely track and I won a race there last year," Stokes said.

"The reason I've targeted a few horses over there is that we've got our Oakbank carnival coming up and some horses don't go well there.

"I needed these horses to have another run going forward and it looks a nice place to head."

Dylanson, a last-start winner of the Colin Hayes Stakes at Morphettville, will contest the Golden Mile (1600m) with Clare Lindop in the saddle.

Dom Tourneur, who scored aboard Hucklebuck and Eclair Big Bang for Stokes during the spring, will ride Eclair Choice in the the Bendigo Guineas (1400m) and Held Hostage in the Bendigo Gold Bracelet (1400m).l

Stokes says Dylanson is in career best form but admits he is facing a difficult assignment.

"He's going really well and the mile is his best distance so we'll give him a crack at it," Stokes said.

He said Eclair Choice would benefit from a first-up second at Morphettville on March 9 after racing wide with a big weight.

"He's trained on well but the 1400 is new territory," Stokes said.

"He seems to be relaxing in his work and we're hoping we can extend him out to a bit further."

Held Hostage, who was successful over 2000m on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, ran fourth over 1200m at the Morphettville meeting.

Stokes said Saturday's race was a stepping stone to the Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) during the Adelaide carnival.

– AAP

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