As Easter racing sees Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills take centre stage, trainer Phillip Stokes has consistent South Australian performer Celsius Star hoping to emulate the victory of stablemate Climbing Star last weekend.
Celsius Star takes on the Listed Hills Stakes (1100m) on Saturday and has been a notable market mover since betting on the event opened on Wednesday having firmed from $11 into $6.50.
Similarly, Climbing Star was backed from $12 into $5.50 towards winning the Listed Matrice Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville Parks.
Both sired by Zoustar, Celsius Star brings with him a neat record of four wins and two minor placings in seven starts over the distance.
“He ran well the other day and he’ll be competitive in a race like that,” Stokes told RSN927.
Celsius Star finished third last start in the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m) at Morphettville behind the promising Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained three-year-old filly Austmarr on March 11.
Last year’s Hills Stakes winner, Taunting holds favouritism for the event at $4.80.
On Climbing Star, Stokes updated that four-year-old mare had returned to his Pakenham stable well with her next assignment being the RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) in Adelaide on April 13 en route to the $1 million Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on April 27.
“I’ve always thought she had that in her and she was dominant,” he said.
“We went there with confidence, and we know that she doesn’t get past 1200-metres.”