The father-son stable of Phillip and Tommy Stokes appear to have a Victoria Derby hope on their hands after the hard-fought win of Kosaji in the listed Sportsbet Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville last Saturday, but the Maurice colt is not yet a certain starter. 
“We’ll let the dust settle,” said stable rep Kerrin Stokes after the Arrowfield Stud-owned Kosaji ($5.50) shook off the challenge of Andrew Gluyas-trained filly Churchill Rose. “He would have to be doing things more tractably than today.”
The last Hill Smith Stakes winner to take the Victoria Derby was the Gluyas-trained Goldrush Guru in 2024.
Kosaji’s win was the first leg of a double for premiership-leading rider Noel Callow, who went on to score on Mt Niseko ($11) in the benchmark 80 Access Hardware Handicap (1050m). 
Prepared locally by trainer Chris Bieg, Mt Niseko came from well back with a striking run over the concluding stages to score first up from a spell.
300 up as Rochelle runs riot
It was a banner day at Morphettville for Rochelle Milnes, whose riding treble included her 300th win.
 Milnes came from well back to open her account on Percidian ($7.50) in the 0-64 M & J Chickens Handicap (1800m) for local trainer Mark Lewis.
She brought up her milestone win in the following race, the benchmark 80 Assa Abloy Handicap (2541m), with a swashbuckling ride on the Will Clarken and Charlotte Sorby-trained Suit Of Wands ($3.80 favourite).
The Dundeel gelding was as many as 10 lengths in front in the run, eventually coasting home by 5¾ lengths.
Milnes, who was the premier Adelaide jockey of 2024/25, completed her treble when Anotherhouse ($15) won the benchmark 70 Sportsbet Fast Form Handicap (1200m) in a tight four-way photo for Murray Bridge trainer Kristi Evans.
The treble took Milnes to seven Adelaide wins for 2026/27, in equal-fourth spot on the premiership table and five behind leader Noel Callow.
Dual joy for Jake
Jake Toeroek was the other rider to notch multiple winners at the Morphettville meet, bringing up the first leg of a double when the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained Sensational Secret ($3.20 favourite) came from well back to win the Kirin Ichiban Handicap (1200m), for mares at 0-64 level. 
David Jolly and Justin Potter provided Toeroek’s second winner,  five-year-old mare Florey ($5.50) fighting tenaciously to take the 0-68 Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap (1600m).
Birthday bonus
Gordon Richards covered some expenses on his birthday trip to Bali when Czech Out ($2.50 favourite) won the benchmark 66 Sportsbet Same Race Multi Handicap (1100m). 
Co-trainer Damien Moyle represented the stable at Morphettville, with Richards on the Indonesian resort island to celebrate his 77th.
A first for Fertier
Horsham trainer Paul Preusker and apprentice Shayleigh Ingelse got off to a flyer at Penola last Friday, taking the first two races with Lucifer’s Girl ($2.20 favourite) and Stepify ($9) in maiden plates of 1075 and 1400 metres respectively.
The day’s other notable achievement was a career-first winner for Murray Bridge trainer Hazel Fertier, with Dazelles ($4.80 favourite) scoring in 0-54 grade over 1300 metres under apprentice Jordyn Weatherley. 
Fertier, a noted track rider for many years at Murray Bridge, took over most of the horses in the Mick Huxtable stable when the veteran conditioner retired at the end of last season.
Stace has got it going on
It was pleasing to see young SA racecaller Lachlan Stace behind the mike at Kilmore’s annual Young Callers Day last week.