Phillip Stokes will have a runner in the 2025 Melbourne Cup, thanks to Daniel Stackhouse’s perfectly timed ride aboard Deakin in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality at Flemington on Saturday afternoon.
The son of Australia was heavily backed with horse racing bookmakers, and he jumped at -125, which was the shortest favourite on the program.
In a race that changed speed multiple times, Smokin Romans (+1100) took up the lead early ahead of Newfoundland (+1500) before Mostly Cloudy (+600) took off to challenge for the lead at the 1400m mark.
The tempo of the 2600m contest lifted, which allowed the eventual winner, Inevitable Award (+4000) and Berkshire Breeze (+500), to get going at the 600m mark and chase down the tiring frontrunners.
Turning for home, Mostly Cloudy started to take smaller steps and the runs started to come from Berkshire Breeze and Deakin.
Those two settled down to fight out the finish in the final 150m, but it was the favourite on the inside who continued to find late and claimed a tough victory by just under a half-length.
Phillip Stokes spoke of the importance of the win and securing a spot in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
“It’s a very important win, just to see the progression the horse has made from when he came to us,” Stokes said.
“He’s been in work a long time now, we skipped the Adelaide Cup to come here, it was a big call and he’s been four or five weeks between runs now.
“He’s got very good staying ability, and Stacky rode him beautifully.
“He’s probably come to the end of if it now, he’ll look very good in my paddock in front of the house in the morning, but big thanks to Terry Henderson and all the team there, they’ve backed us the whole way.
“He’s got a start in the Melbourne Cup, that’s great, and we’ll just have to plot a path towards it.
“Which way we go is probably through a Caulfield Cup I would have thought, but he’s a very exciting horse, and it’s a credit to train him.”
Daniel Stackhouse was elated with the win post-race.
“How exciting! He’s such a cool horse, this,” Stackhouse exclaimed.
“I can’t thank Terry (Henderson) and all the owners and Stokesy and the team (enough), they do such a fantastic job and just to be riding him and have a fantastic association with him and getting the job it’s a big thrill.
“The pace wasn’t very quick from get-go and he just got a little bit keen being a bit fresh between runs, it’s been over a month now.
“He just wanted to get the job over and done with a little bit, he didn’t really settle that well but it was nice with (Mostly) Cloudy put some speed into the race and he actually relaxed really nicely.
“He had to dig deep for it, and he showed a good turn of foot, and he can stay.”
Deakin is rated as a +1400 chance with Picklebet in the 2025 Melbourne Cup futures markets.
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