Ben Allen was having his only ride for the afternoon across Flemington's nine-race card aboard Mileva, retaining the ride since she joined Stokes this season.
Mileva started her stint with Stokes by winning the Listed Alinghi Stakes (1100m) on Caulfield Cup Day and then finished two lengths adrift of Minhaaj when third in the G3 Begonia Belle (1100m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The daughter of Headwater handled the drop back to 1000 metres without issue, Allen expertly switching Mileva in behind the pacemaking pair of Sartorial Splendor and Grandview Avenue within 200 metres of the start.
Mileva ran her final 600 metres in 32.82 seconds to clinch victory ahead of Parsifal with Halvorsen closing from last and running the quickest late splits of the race to finish third.
“It worked out good, we stepped away well and there was nice speed, I was happy to come across and sit inside them and I was able to get cover," Allen said.
"I was able to get onto the back of Sartorial Splendor and it couldn’t have turned out any better. She was too good.
"She can throw her head around sometimes but she relaxed well today – she’s a pretty cruisy horse and she’ll give you her all."
Stokes indicated that he would keep Mileva fresh between runs and target Group 1 sprints next year.
"She spends most of her time up at our farm and just ticks over up there on the hill track and in the pool," Stokes said.
"We don’t jump her out between runs, she doesn’t need it, she’s very clean winded and that’s the key to her.
"We’ll keep her ticking over and look towards the Oakleigh Plate in February and then maybe onto a Robert Sangster.
"I'm very happy for Michael Birchall, he’s getting a big thrill out of this," Stokes added, referring to Mileva's owner who purchased the daughter of Headwater midway through this year.
Mileva has raced 12 times for six wins and three placings with prizemoney of $409,185.
