Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
The Thoroughbred Report caught up with Phillip Stokes to hear his thoughts on this year’s Listed Oaklands Plate winner Matahga (NZ) (Tivaci), and whether he specifically targets the Oaklands Plate given the success he has enjoyed in the race and with its past winners subsequently.
Matahga the newest Oaklands Plate winner for the stable
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga (NZ) (Tivaci) stamped himself as an exciting spring 3-year-old prospect with a hard-fought win in Saturday’s $120,000 Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville last Saturday over 1400 metres.
The progressive son of Tivaci had already caught the eye with a stylish victory at Murray Bridge on June 14, making him one of the favoured runners heading into the Oaklands Plate. He now boasts an impressive record of two wins and a second from just three starts, banking A$144,800 in prizemoney for the Brook family’s Saddlers Knife banner.
“He’s a really nice colt. He is probably going to make more of a miler, 2000-metre horse with time, but he won very impressively,” trainer Stokes said.
“He is out in the paddock now and will have a month off. Maybe we might resume him in the Guineas Prelude. I have a feeling he may not be sharp enough for a Guineas, so we may look towards the G1 Champion Stakes up in Sydney, but how he goes in the Prelude will dictate that.
“He’s (Matahga) a really nice colt. He is probably going to make more of a miler, 2000-metre horse with time, but he won very impressively.” - Philip Stokes
“He may look sharp enough so those plans after the prelude are just that at the moment.”
Stokes recalled Matahga’s journey from the sales ring to stakes winner:
“We bought him in New Zealand. David (Brook) picked out a few yearlings when we were over at Karaka, and he liked this horse.
“We were able to bid on him and get him. He wasn’t an expensive horse either, we picked him out from Waikato Stud, and some of the workers owned him, so they were very happy. So it’s going great.”
“He (Matahga) wasn’t an expensive horse either, we picked him out from Waikato Stud, so they were very happy. So it’s going great.” - Philip Stokes
Stokes also saddled up the third placegetter, Kazaru (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}), who was another smart Karaka buy.
Kazaru (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“We also trained the third placegetter, Kazaru, and we picked her up for cheap (NZ$27,500) at Book 2 at Karaka. She will have another run and then go out for a break. She looks a nice staying filly. She is a half-sibling to Daqiansweet Junior, who won an Adelaide Cup for us, so she is bred to stay.”
Matahga became stakes winner number seven for Tivaci (High Chaparral {Ire}). The promising colt was purchased by Stokes for NZ$80,000 from Waikato Stud’s 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale draft.
He is the first foal of Mohegan Star (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), a half-sister to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Little Brose, who retired to stand alongside his sire Per Incanto (USA) at Little Avondale Stud. Little Brose and Mohegan Star are out of American Listed winner Mohegan Sky (USA) (Straight Man {USA}), who is also a half-sister to juvenile stakes winner Vous (USA) (Wild Rush {USA}).
Matahga as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
When asked about the colt’s pedigree and his close link to Little Avondale Stud’s new stallion Little Brose, Stokes was hopeful of a future at stud for Matahga.
“You never know, he is closely related to a stallion, so we will be trying our best to make him into one.”
Stokes’ strong link to the Oaklands Plate continues
Phillip Stokes has forged a strong connection with the Listed Oaklands Plate in recent years, with several of his winners going on to enjoy significant success as 3-year-olds and beyond.
In 2024, he trained Femminile (Dundeel {NZ}) to win the Oaklands Plate before she captured this year’s G1 South Australian Derby, and was sold for $1.5 million at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
Interestingly, Coco Sun (The Autumn Sun), trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, completed the same double the year prior, before she was purchased at the 2025 Inglis Chairman’s Sale for $1.2 million by Z Zhujin for Yulong Investments.
Femminile | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Back in 2020, Stokes also prepared Instant Celebrity (Not A Single Doubt) to win the Oaklands Plate, before she went on to claim the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude and the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes the following year.
When asked about the connection and whether the Oaklands Plate is a specific target for his stable, Stokes explained:
“We have a stable in Adelaide which makes it a lot easier to target these kind of races. We seem to have some success in the race, and getting stakes form as a late 2-year-old does set them up nicely for their 3-year-old career in terms of their rating points. and where they sit.”
“We seem to have some success in the race, and getting stakes form as a late 2-year-old does set them up nicely for their 3-year-old career.” - Philip Stokes
He added: “The races in Adelaide do tend to be a little weaker as the big stables aren’t targeting them all of the time, so it is an asset and an advantage for us to target these races, as we can bounce them back and forth between the stables.”
There’s a consistent pattern of success among stables with a strong presence in both Victoria and South Australia. Tony McEvoy has won the race four times, while David Hayes has also had significant success in the race.
Philip Stokes | Image courtesy of Stokes Racing
“It is great to get black-type for these horses, and it sets them up well before they start their 3-year-old campaigns. Instant Celebrity came out of winning this race and won the Guineas Prelude but failed to get the mile, and came back and won the Robert Sangster.
“So they can become sprinters or stayers out of this race, but generally we let them do the talking as they become 3-year-olds.”
Given the strength of the form emerging from the Oaklands Plate in recent years, Stokes believes the race may deserve greater recognition.
“With the amount of good horses that have come out of the race, maybe it could easily have Group status in the future as it has been such a good form race,” he said.
“With the amount of good horses that have come out of the race, maybe it could easily have Group status in the future.” - Philip Stokes
The benefits of a dual-state stable
Phillip Stokes Racing operates as a successful dual-state stable, with stable sat both Morphettville in South Australia, and Pakenham in Victoria. This strategic setup allows for seamless movement of horses between states, enabling the team to place their runners to best advantage.
It’s a system that has undoubtedly contributed to Stokes’ three wins in the Listed Oaklands Plate, as well as a string of elite-level victories in South Australia. Among those are G1 Robert Sangster Stakes triumphs with Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) and Instant Celebrity, a G1 South Australian Derby with Femminile, and Adelaide Cup wins with Good Idea (So You Think {NZ}) and Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}) amongst others.
Stokes Stables | Image courtesy of Stokes Racing
Reflecting on a season that’s rapidly approaching its end, Stokes said the team is hitting new heights and continuing to progress.
“The team is having a really good season. We are closing in on $8 million prizemoney. We have been in Victoria for six years, and every season we are training in excess of 100 winners for the season, which is great.
“The team is having a really good season. We are closing in on $8 million prizemoney. Every season we are training in excess of 100 winners for the season, which is great.” - Philip Stokes
“We have built the stable up well in clientele and Adelaide is going better than ever. Both my boys (Tommy and Kerrin) run Adelaide and they do a fantastic job, and that helps when sending horses over to Adelaide to run. It’s just a smooth thing and they do a super job with them.”
