Trainer Phillip Stokes is working hard to retain Group 1 winner Femminile in his stable for the remainder of her campaign and has locked in top jockey Blake Shinn for a potential Queensland Derby tilt later this month.
Shinn has committed to ride Femminile in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on May 31, just four days after the filly is set to go under the hammer at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Stokes, who will give Femminile a reverse-way trial at Pakenham on Tuesday before she heads north, says prospective buyers could have a rare opportunity to immediately race their new acquisition at the elite level.
“She’s going through the sale a few days before, so the new buyers can have a runner in the Derby,” Stokes said.
“She’ll have a reverse (way) trial on Tuesday and then go up at the end of the week. She seems well.”
Femminile shot into the spotlight with her win in the South Australian Derby (2500m) on May 3, defeating the boys under jockey Lachlan Neindorf while carrying the OTI Racing colours.
Blake Shinn will be looking to secure back-to-back Queensland Derby wins for OTI, having saluted last year aboard Warmonger by a dominant 10-1/2 lengths.
Femminile is one of three mounts Shinn has lined up for Stokes at Eagle Farm on May 31, with the in-form hoop also booked to ride Regal Azmon and Stay Focused.
Regal Azmon, who stormed home to win the Group 3 Cummings Stakes at Morphettville on May 10, will be tested over further in the $200,000 Group 2 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m).
“I thought, he’s in career-best so we might as well have a crack at that,” Stokes said. “He’s an older horse, but he’s going as good as ever.”
The Queensland Derby headlines a big program at Eagle Farm on May 31, while Doomben takes centre stage this weekend with a blockbuster clash between Pride Of Jenni and Antino.
To follow Femminile’s Derby run or bet on other feature races, explore odds and markets at trusted Australian betting sites.