Adelaide trainer, Philip Stokes, had the Midas touch over the four days of the Flemington Carnival, producing four winners, by far his best training performance.

When he comes to Melbourne you know it’s not for the good of his health, and he rarely goes home empty handed.

Stokes would be best described as a quiet type, nothing flash about him, he seldom holds court with personalities, preferring to watch races alone and always standing in the same place .

His winning strike rate is uncanny, there is ample proof of that and Flemington in particular has proved a happy hunting ground.

The stable jockey, Dom Tourneur, who hails from Mauritius, is a much improved rider since settling in Adelaide and joining the Stokes stable.

Tourneur was the original rider for the much touted Alcopop, he rode the gelding into second place behind Dunaden in the Caulfield Cup two years ago.

Hucklebuck was surely the star of the team, he opened up the winning spree in the Group 3 $ 200,000 Yellowglen Stakes, that was pretty good but the icing on the cake was the Group1 Emirates Stakes of $1 million.

Stokes praised his staff in the stable at home in Adelaide, “they have all put in the hard yards as well, it has been a team effort, it is now all worthwhile “ he said.  

He completed the carnival with four winners, two credited to Hucklebuck, while Held Hostage and Éclair Big Bang, each won on the final day.

Hucklebuck defeating Lucky Hussler

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