Sam Collett
Trish Dunell
Trainers Tarsha and Michael Stokes are hoping northern jockey Sam Collett can pave the way for a successful innings for their stable over the two days of the Marlborough Racing Club's meeting at Blenheim.
Collett has enjoyed some success for the Stokes stable and will ride five of its seven runners on Friday, including Maia's Angel, a leading chance in the So Long Ossie Rating 85 over 1000 metres.
"We approached Sam and she was happy to come down, but she can't be here for the second day of the meeting so Jacob Lowry will ride most of the team on Sunday," said Michael Stokes.
Collett will be riding Maia's Angel for the first time and, although the mare meets opponents who have won more races, Stokes is confident she will acquit herself well.
"This has been the target – the 1000 metres," said Stokes. "The distance suits her and if she goes well she'll back up in the open 1000 metre race on the last day."
Maia's Angel is a former northerner who picked up six placings before joining the Stokes' team about 18 months ago.
A winner of two races since joining the Stokes team, Maia's Angel has also registered a string of placings and struggles to see out a solidly run 1200 metres.
With limited 1000-metre opportunities in the South Island it's no wonder the Stokes stable has targeted the Blenheim meeting and from barrier two she will be hard to catch.
Caramac, one of a large team being campaigned at the two-day meeting by Kevin Myers, is the most successful of Maia's Angel's rivals, having won seven races.
She goes into the event with a last-start second to Charmont at Trentham and will be aided by the 3kg claim of apprentice Danielle Hirini.– NZ Racing Desk.
Collett has enjoyed some success for the Stokes stable and will ride five of its seven runners on Friday, including Maia's Angel, a leading chance in the So Long Ossie Rating 85 over 1000 metres.
"We approached Sam and she was happy to come down, but she can't be here for the second day of the meeting so Jacob Lowry will ride most of the team on Sunday," said Michael Stokes.
Collett will be riding Maia's Angel for the first time and, although the mare meets opponents who have won more races, Stokes is confident she will acquit herself well.
"This has been the target – the 1000 metres," said Stokes. "The distance suits her and if she goes well she'll back up in the open 1000 metre race on the last day."
Maia's Angel is a former northerner who picked up six placings before joining the Stokes' team about 18 months ago.
A winner of two races since joining the Stokes team, Maia's Angel has also registered a string of placings and struggles to see out a solidly run 1200 metres.
With limited 1000-metre opportunities in the South Island it's no wonder the Stokes stable has targeted the Blenheim meeting and from barrier two she will be hard to catch.
Caramac, one of a large team being campaigned at the two-day meeting by Kevin Myers, is the most successful of Maia's Angel's rivals, having won seven races.
She goes into the event with a last-start second to Charmont at Trentham and will be aided by the 3kg claim of apprentice Danielle Hirini.– NZ Racing Desk.