November 21.

Morphettville trainer Phillip Stokes has reported promising galloper Squillani has settled into Perth well leading up to Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot.

Squillani had a torrid time getting to Western Australia, being grounded at the airport before making the flight. The West's heat also took its toll but, the gelding has picked up in the last few days.

"I'm pleased I came over fairly early," Stokes said. "He didn't do that well when he first arrived. It's been 39 degrees but he's been better each day and his work has really picked up."

Stokes, who rides Squillani in work himself, has been giving the gelding a pre-dawn hit-out and swimming in the afternoons but he did have a solid gallop at Tuesday's Breakfast With The Stars.

"He galloped nicely on Tuesday and just did some more swimming and even time yesterday," Stokes said.

Squillani goes into Saturday's mile feature with three runs under his belt - the first two wins before finishing out of a placing for the first time in his career last start at Flemington. Stokes would have liked to have had another run under Squillani's belt but is just happy his feet are right.

"After he won the TEAC Stakes at Flemington his feet bruised up, and I had to nurse him through to his next start," Stokes said. "He drew off the track, we rode him back and he overraced and knocked up. He's much better than that and has trimmed up since the run.

"He wouldn't have been here had he not had the setback, because he would have had a couple more runs in Melbourne but seeing he's only had a few this time in I thought it was an ideal opportunity to bring him over. It's good experience, both for the horse and myself, but I'm still adamant he'll be better next time in."

Saturday's event is Stokes first runner in Group 1 company. The young trainer, whose training background lies in Japan, boasts one of South Australia's best strike-rate, with almost a winner every two runners.

Despite having just over half-a-dozen horses in his small but select team, he saddles up runners in three states this Saturday. Apart from Squillani in Western Australia, he has last-start Morphettville winner Vignor (pictured) in a 1400m mares races at Caulfield, along with the consistent Nancy Eleanor in a 1514m three-year-old race at Morphettville.

"Vignor won so well last start she earned a chance to go to Melbourne," Stokes said. "And Nancy Eleanor should run well in Adelaide. I would have preferred to run her over 1800m but decided to keep her against her own sex at this stage."

Copied with permission of Thoroughbred Racing South Australia:
http://www.trsa.com.au/