Racing
Matahga storms through to launch Opperman's treble
The Phillip Stokes stable’s stunning 2024-25 season in Adelaide was highlighted by yet another feature race victory when Matahga claimed Saturday’s $120,000 Listed Sportsbet David Peacock Oaklands Plate at Morphettville.
The dual-state operation has produced 42 metropolitan wins in SA for the season, nine winners ahead of their mark from last year, while sitting 10th on the Australian Metropolitan Trainers' Premiership with 21 winners interstate.
And they have their eyes on the Melbourne Spring with the exciting New Zealand-bred two-year-old.
Sent out a $2.15 favourite on the back of a last-start win in the Racing Rewards SA feature at Murray Bridge, it took a brilliant tactical ride by Jacob Opperman to get the grey home as he weaved a passage between horses in the home straight before running down Victorian filly Ethereum Girl.
Raced by lifelong friends and leading stables clients, the Brooks family, Matahga has quickly paid back its $80,000 purchase price after being plucked from Book 1 at the 2024 Karaka Yearling Sale.
"I've known the Brooks family all my life,'' Phillip Stokes said post-race.
"He's a nice colt this horse, dug deep, he's come a long way this preparation.
"He'll go for a break now and I think he deserves to be aimed up at some nice races in the spring,'' he said.
Matagha was the first leg of a treble for Jacob Opperman, who put on a riding clinic on the Parks.
He sat three back along the fence aboard Test The Law and produced the horse at the perfect time to nail Exalted Fire before doing the same aboard Victorian mare Fiasco Tess, Opperman this time staying to the rail before she scored impressively.
"I came here with a good book of rides, and it's been a really good day,'' he said.
Darryl Hewitt's brilliant season continued when Sir Now made it seven wins from just 13 starts, while the Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor stable will target the Mildura Cup with Metrical, who was back to winning form via a perfect Jason Holder ride.
There was SA success over the border with the Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea-trained Sixteen Reasons returning to form first-up from a spell, winning at Caulfield with Jaylah Kennedy in the saddle.
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