South Australian raider Eclair Choice has continued trainer Phillip Stokes impressive record during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington this afternoon; producing an impressive start-to-finish performance to take out the Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m).
Eclair Choice led from start to finish to win the 2015 Salinger Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart
Eclair Choice was only given some chance of success at $14 odds, but gave his tilt the perfect start when jumping well and taking up the pace from the outset; setting a fair tempo alongside the likes of Hot Snitzel and Dothraki.
Continuing to find upon arriving on the course proper, Eclair Choice immediately responded when asked for an extra effort by jockey Dom Tourneur; kicking clear to find the line a comfortable length ahead of Hot Snitzel; Dothraki maintaining for third.
Tourneur delivered a smart ride on Eclair Choice to win the 2015 Salinger Stakes, and was thrilled the horse was able to replicate his last-start efforts for success in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1200m) a fortnight ago.
“He won well the other day when he dead heated and for him to come out and do it again, it’s a great training effort by Phillip,” Tourneur said.
“He just keeps stepping up this horse. The plan wasn’t to lead today but from the gate we drew wide and I just let him amble across, just kept him balanced and he was strong to the line,”
Stokes was thrilled with Eclair Choice’s performance in the Salinger Stakes and revealed he will set the four-year-old for a Group 1 feature race through the 2016 Autumn Carnival should the horse continue to improve.
“He jumped well, we made our own luck and he’s tough to get past this horse, he’s a real bulldog,” Stokes said after the race.
“This was his Grand Final today and he’s done a mighty job.
“He’s progressed from Adelaide at Listed level to a credible Group 2 winner. I’d like to think that in autumn maybe he can take the next step and go for an Oakleigh Plate or something like that.
“If he keeps improving, why not.”
A number of runners were completely luckless in transit in the 2015 Salinger Stakes including race favourites Delectation and Under The Louvre.
In taking out the 2015 Salinger Stakes, Eclair Choice has now posted an impressive six wins and seven minors through only sixteen career starts.
Punters who backed Eclair Choice to win the Salinger Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au have been paid out on $17.92 odds for success through the Top Tote or SP Plus 20% market!
2015 Salinger Stakes Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | ECLAIR CHOICE | Phillip Stokes | Dom Tourneur | – | 11 | 55kg | $14 |
| 2 | 2 | HOT SNITZEL | Peter & Paul Snowden | Steven Arnold | 0.75L | 12 | 58kg | $31 |
| 3 | 3 | DOTHRAKI | Peter & Paul Snowden | Blake Shinn | 0.95L | 7 | 57.5kg | $7.50 |
| 4 | 6 | DELECTATION | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 1.05L | 3 | 56.5kg | $5 |
| 5 | 4 | GENERALIFE | John O’Shea | James McDonald | 1.35L | 1 | 57.5kg | $13 |
| 6 | 5 | UNDER THE LOUVRE | Robert Smerdon | Brenton Avdulla | 2.1L | 2 | 57kg | $4.60F |
| 7 | 10 | CHURCHILL DANCER | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | Michael Walker | 4.1L | 9 | 54.5kg | $11 |
| 8 | 12 | BRING ME THE MAID | Peter G Moody | Dwayne Dunn | 4.2L | 4 | 53kg | $14 |
| 9 | 7 | FONTELINA | Tony Gollan | Damien Oliver | 5.2L | 10 | 56.5kg | $14 |
| 10 | 8 | KNOYDART | John O’Shea | Opie Bosson | 5.4L | 5 | 56.5kg | $13 |
| 11 | 14 | KAEPERNICK | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Tommy Berry | 6.9L | 6 | 53kg | $17 |
| 12 | 1 | MOMENT OF CHANGE | Peter G Moody | Daniel Stackhouse | 7.3L | 8 | 59kg | $41 |
