2025 Thousand Guineas Prelude: Ferivia wins and ‘improvement to come’, trainer Phillip Stokes said

Ferivia, trained by Phillip Stokes, absorbed a hot speed and defied a wall of fillies late to claim the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) under jockey Lachlan Neindorf.

Favourite Ole Dancer launched in the straight to force a tight five-horse photo finish but settled for second from Salty Pearl, Ethereum Girl and plucky leader Bellazaine.

A half-length separated the five fillies.

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“We thought she’d got there,” Stokes said.

“She was meant to run last week and we had to scratch her on race morning, which was unfortunate but turned out to be blessing.

“She missed a bit of work so there’s improvement to come … off to the (Thousand) Guineas in three weeks’ time.”

Neindorf said Ferivia deserved the gritty win.

“I knew Blake Shinn was coming home very late (on Ole Dancer) and I wasn’t sure,” Neindorf said.

“It was a blanket finish. She was tough, I thought I was gone at the 100m.

“She changed legs and found again. She’s deserved that today.”

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Neindorf echoed Stokes in endorsing Ferivia’s potential to run a strong 1600m next start.

“I’ve always said from day dot she’ll be a 1400m-mile horse,” Neindorf said.

“She’s really making her mark and presence felt … off a good tempo she really toughed it out late.

“To be honest, I only felt like I was hitting my straps on the line.”

Custom and Gisella were scratched behind the barriers on veterinary advice.

Custom reared up and flipped in barrier one, which affected Gisella next door.

Jockeys Mark Zahra and Luke Currie thankfully avoided injury.

Originally published as 2025 Thousand Guineas Prelude: Ferivia wins and ‘improvement to come’, trainer Phillip Stokes said