Phillip "Stoked" Up About Squillani

Thursday, 26 September 2002 00:00
r4squillani.jpg (13591 bytes)Talented Adelaide galloper Squillani is primed to win his second consecutive Melbourne race when he lines up in Saturday's $40,000 Blue Ribbon Day Welter (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

The Shagny gelding had his first jump out on the strathayr track during the week and his trainer Phillip Stokes was pleased with the gallop.

"He isn't the best track worker," Stokes told Cyberhorse. "But he seemed the handle the track well enough."

A stakes placed performer in Adelaide, Squillani gained much respect from the Melbourne public when he led throughout and showed plenty of fight to win the listed Teac Digital Stakes at Flemington earlier this month.

"That win took a bit out of him," Stokes said. "We'd planned on running him in the Dubai Racing Club Cup, but as it turned out that race turned out to be very strong."

Stokes said he had no worries about the horse being able to handle the extra 200 metres of Saturday's event.

"He placed in the (Port Adelaide) Guineas over 1800 metres in Adelaide (to Our Kazz)," Stokes noted. "So I am not worried with the 1600 metres."

r4squillani2.jpg (13975 bytes)"And that time over the 1800 metres, we went into the race up 400 metres, which was far from ideal."

Connections have not tried to plan too far ahead with the gutsy gelding but they have their eye on a feature race at Moonee Valley in a month's time.

"Should he handle Moonee Valley in race conditions then we will look at the Waterford Crystal Mile on Cox Plate Day," Stokes predicted.

Stokes is confident that Squillani will develop into a much better horse during the autumn and he is quietly hoping he could pick up some riches in Sydney.

"You'd like to think he could be competitve on Doncaster Day in Sydney," he said. "It doesn't matter what race you are in they are all worth plenty."

While disappointed he was unable to use the services of Danny Nikolic this weekend Stokes has found a suitable replacement in the form of Kerrin McEvoy.

"He is absolutely flying," Stokes said.

PICS - Quentin Lang.