One of just two fillies in the race, Femminile has relished the quick turnaround from last week’s Oaks to take out the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville on Saturday for trainer Phillip Stokes.
Under a cool Lachlan Neindorf, the daughter of Dundeel didn’t have to go around a horse after sneaking runs along the rail, booting clear to score by three-quarters of a length as a $19 chance over $3.40 favourite Statuario, with $6.50 chance Lavalier a further length away in third.
There weren’t many more emotional wins than Lachlan Neindorf in his maiden Group One victory aboard Climbing Star in last year’s Robert Sangster Stakes, but this year the young hoop was as unflustered as his ride.
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“No more tears,” Neindorf said.
“It’s funny, about a month afterwards I went over to Flemington, I rode one for Phil and the team, and I think it was Pat Carey next to Phil, he said, ‘you must have taught that boy everything’.
“He said, ‘I didn’t tell him how to bloody cry!’ So from that day onward, I go, you know what, I’m not crying again, no more.”
In similar fashion to his victory aboard Climbing Star, Neindorf was happy to ride for luck and executed a pre-race plan to perfection.
“I was following Statuario, he was drawn one, I was drawn two, and that was just the plan early on, and then he sort of went to avenue out, and I lost the back of him, and from that point on, I just thought, ‘you know what, let’s make it up as we go here.”
“It’s magical. It’s amazing, really, sitting here thinking that all of a sudden now you’ve won two Group Ones, two consecutive years in a row.
“To have my family, my old man over there, he’s got his top hat on he’s a happy camper, so a few beers being sucked tonight.”
Assistant trainer Tommy Stokes said the win greatly enhances Femminile’s value, thrilled to get another major win for OTI Racing.
“I’m just very proud, especially another winner for OTI being a Group One, it’s really special,” Stokes said.
“She’s actually due to be sold after this prep so it’s massive, she’s super valuable now.”