A long-range plan – hatched 12 months ago – came to fruition today when Good Idea romped to a convincing victory in the 3200m, $302,250 TAB Adelaide Cup at Morphettville.
Good Idea finished runner-up in the 2020 Cup, ridden by Ben Thompson, and the Queensland-based jockey was eager to take the ride again this year, revealing post-race that he and trainer Phillip Stokes always had a return date in mind.
“Phillip... said we’ll come back next year and go one better – he was spot on,” Thompson told Racing.com immediately after the race.
“I saw the horse trialling late last year. I keep in touch with Phillip and... he kept me up to date.
“I spoke to (Stokes) after his first up run and he said ‘Make sure you’re right to go’.”
From barrier one, Thompson had Good Idea – an $18 shot with TAB – in a perfect spot throughout the run, and the six-year-old son of So You Think had the race in his keeping inside the final 100m, before a sell-out crowd of 5500. Eperdument, trained at Strathalbyn by Shane Oxlade and ridden by local hoop Kayla Crowther, ran out of her skin to finish second at big odds, while well- backed Victorian visitor Long Arm finished third.
Hot favourite and Lord Reims Stakes winner Tralee Rose was given a perfect ride by jockey Jason Holder, but failed to run on in the straight and finished fourth.
Adelaide-based Tommy Stokes, deputising for his Victorian-based father, said the Cup result was a case of ‘father knows best’.
“Dad’s trained him to a tee,” Tommy said.
“He was very confident going into today, I was hesitant, but yeah, fantastic result.”
Tommy described Good Idea as “a tough horse”. “He arrived at our stables on Friday in terrific order,” he said.
“I can’t believe it. (It was) a super training effort. The team at Pakenham have done a great job.”
Thompson, 24, was particularly pleased to land a big-race winner for the Stokes stable.
“It’s great to repay Phillip and Tom,” he said.
“They were my biggest supporters in Victoria before making the move to Brisbane.”
Good Idea finished second to King of Leogrance in the 2020 Adelaide Cup.
IMAGE - Atkins Photography