Octane continues form surge under Stokes

Trainer Phillip Stokes continued his successful rehabilitation of Octane who has finished strongly to win at his Melbourne return.

Octane was the highest priced yearling sold in Victoria at $1.4 million but after six starts he had won one race and was sent to Stokes.

Since then the half-brother to Newmarket Handicap winner The Quarterback has won six of his seven starts.

Stokes said he had to start over and rebuild Octane’s confidence when the horse arrived at his stable.

After he had won five of his six starts in South Australia, Stokes thought the horse was ready to return to Melbourne and tackle a better class race.

Stokes thanked his son Tommy and jockey Kayla Crowther for the work they had done with the five-year-old before sending him to his Pakenham stables.

One original owner, Ken McDonald, showed faith in the son of I Am Invincible by buying out the rest of the ownership group for a sum believed to be around $40,000.

“I’m very happy for Ken McDonald who was one of the original owners and gave him to us to train,” Stokes said.

Octane’s victory in the Farewell To Rob Gaylard (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday completed a winning double for Jamie Kah who scored an earlier win on Tavidance.

Octane ($2.90 fav) defeated Rock Prophet ($4.60) by three-quarters of a length with Sword Of Mercy ($8.50) the same margin away third.