Snow Mercy takes big leap to win the Scarborough Stakes
Having shed her maiden status on her second start on her most recent appearance at Morphettville on September 13, the Phillip Stokes-trained Snow Mercy (Toronado) showed her talents when she added The Valley’s Scarborough Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) to her CV on Friday.
Ridden by Lachlan Neindorf, the three-year-old filly showed bravery in spades to beat Memo (Capitalist) by 0.8 lengths with another 0.1 lengths back to Point Barrow (Blue Point) in third.
Speaking post-race on behalf of his father and trainer, Tommy Stokes showed his admiration for the filly.
“She’s shown a lot of promise with her data at home back in Adelaide, it’s been super,” said Tommy Stokes.
“To be honest, she couldn’t have really done much more than she has in her two starts today. She probably should have won on debut, arguably, and second up she was super.
“She’s been underdone for both of those runs too, and to come here third up on a big night.
“She’s been prepped up really well by the team in Adelaide. Full credit to them, they do a great job, and I suppose the Adelaide form is always a bit discounted.
“She was super, she paraded really well, and aided by a really good ride by Lachie, summed up the race pre-race for us, and that’s how it eventuated.
“So we’re really rapt, and we might have to change our plans, although we were quietly confident going into the race, to win it is another thing, so we might have to choose a different way of getting to a better race now.”
Confident that she is only going to improve, Stokes was enthused to secure some black type for the filly.
“We just wanted to get a bit of black type this preparation, and we know that she’s going to be a better autumn horse,” said Stokes.
“So, world’s her oyster, and very good to kick off a group three winner, especially in these colours too. Instant Celebrity won in these colours, she won a [Group 1] Sangster. Really rapt for Trevor and Beth Robinson, they’re great family friends of ours and just a great supporter, so it’s a great night.”
Neindorf added: “She’s a good horse. I’ve always had a big opinion of this filly from the early doors when I sat on her. I said to Tommy one morning, we’ve got something here and she just kept on going shin sore and minor issues.
“The team have been really patient with her and she’s kept on coming back and showing us signs that she could reach this level.
“It’s good to get her here tonight and a great bunch of owners. It’s a privilege to ride a winner in these colours. Obviously, going back to Instant Celebrity, she was a top-class sprinter, and she looks like she’s going to follow in her footsteps.”
Bred by Trevor and Beth Robertson, Snow Mercy is the best foal out of the placed mare Snow Surrender, who is a half-sister to Listed winner Adelong (Medaglia D’Oro). Further afield this is the same family as Group 1 winner Snowland (Snippets) and Group 2 winner Portillo (Red Ransom), the dam of fellow Group 2 scorer Ghisoni (Lonhro).
Snow Mercy’s half-brother by Lonhro (Octagonal) was bought for $110,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale and Snow Surrender produced a filly by Grunt (O’Reilly).
Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (High Chaparral) has been sidelined at stud duties for the 2025 season as he battles a significant infection and lameness.