Dual state-based trainer Phillip Stokes has captured the South Australian Derby at Morphettville for the second successive year, this time with a rank outsider.
Building on Femminile’s $19 score from last year, Wigmore delivered at $41 on his second run for Stokes in the 2518m three-year-old Classic on Saturday.
The victory gave Teo Nugent his second top-flight win, with Wigmore prevailing by a short head over VRC Oaks victor Strictly Business ($12), and Autumn Mystery ($31) trailing by half a length in third.
After finishing fourth in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie on March 7, Wigmore arrived at Stokes’ stable three weeks ago and bowed in the Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville last Saturday.
The gelding was seventh that day, but Stokes observed considerable strides made by race time, as he had been stationed at the Morphettville yard following Melbourne-based Derby prep.
Stokes revealed OTI manager Terry Henderson wanted 25 per cent of Wigmore sold off, which he managed to clients with prompt success.
This is Stokes’ ninth Group 1 hit, with no short-term Group 1 plans for Wigmore on the horizon.
"We just brought him along slowly. He’s very clean winded and a big thanks to OTI," Stokes said.
"They’re massive supporters. We’ve won this race twice with them and we’ve had a few Group 1 winners now.
"We’re getting up there, Group 1 winners wise. They’re very important. It’s good for everyone and there’s a lot of good owners in this.
"It’s a great result."
Stokes downplayed chances of the Queensland Derby (2400m) trip to Brisbane later in the month.
"He’s done an amazing job after being up for so long," Stokes said.
"We may have a Melbourne Cup horse on our hands."
With Lachlan Neindorf suspended, Nugent drew the ride, Stokes confirmed.
Neindorf had schooled Wigmore extensively at Pakenham initially and proposed his dad buy into the Derby winner.
Nugent shared his long history with Stokes from age 12, jesting about a past dream of apprenticing under him.
"I went over to Ireland to learn how to ride horses and for whatever reason, it didn’t work out and I went to Ciaron Maher instead," Nugent said.
"It’s good to team up with Phil and get a Group 1 winner behind us.
"He was always super throughout my apprenticeship, and he would always chuck me on in town.
"Just of late, I’ve been coming over to Adelaide, warming up for the season and to get a Group 1 win, it’s a massive thrill.
"Phil had this horse trained to the minute. This is his first campaign and to be in work for six months, he tipped me off when I got on, he was feeling super well.
"He’s a typical Kiwi mudlover, he got through that track, no worries at all, so it’s onwards and upwards for him, for sure."
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