Next month’s The Goodwood 2016 is the main Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival aim for the local Phillip Stokes-trained sprinter Nostradamus who runs in the feature race at Morphettville on the weekend.

A progressive four-year-old son of Medaglia D’Oro, Stokes’ smart stallion Nostradamus is one of 11 hopefuls contesting Saturday’s $120,000 Group 3 RN Irwin Stakes (1100m) in South Australia.

Current RN Irwin Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is firmly led by the rails-drawn Tuscan Sling, the Darren Weir-trained Danehill Dancer mare paying $2 for the win.

She’s tipped to frank the Melbourne form from February that saw her win the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) before her second behind Azkadellia, last start winner of the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, in the Group 3 Mannerism Stakes (1400m).

The five-year-old mares are dominating RN Irwin Stakes markets this carnival with the two next best in betting, Runway Star ($5.50) and Weir’s other chance La Passe ($7.50), both also of that age and gender.

Nostradamus meanwhile is the shortest-priced of the double-figure hopes to win the Group 3 on Saturday from barrier four with Stokes’ stable jockey Dom Tourneur booked for the ride on the $11 shot.

Despite Morphettville being the horse’s new home track, he has had just one previous start at the course when finishing a first-up sixth behind Daytona Grey in the Listed Manihi Classic (1100m) on April 9.

Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas’ Artie Schiller six-year-old Daytona Grey won last year’s RN Irwin Stakes and is back this weekend defending his title at $14 to go back-to-back.

Nostradamus is a recent acquisition by Stokes having previous been prepared by Team Hawkes before the recent purchase by Rosemont Stud that saw him transferred to Adelaide.

The main aim with the three-time winner is to get a Group 1 victory on the record and increase his potential value at stud.

He is a dual Group 3 champion already with wins in the 2014 San Domenico Stakes and 2015 Gold Coast Guineas, and has had five Group 1 starts.

His best result in top class was a fifth in the 2014 Golden Rose as a three-year-old, while his last Group 1 foray produced a ninth to Hot Snitzel in last year’s BTC Cup in Brisbane.

Since then he has finished in the money just once, form Stokes is hoping the horse can improve on this weekend and then again in the $500,000 Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) back at the track on May 21.

“He’s a really nice horse – a nice type of colt,” Stokes said of Nostradamus speaking to Racing Ahead on RSN on Thursday.

“I gave him a run the other day just to have a look at him and feel him out – he’s still a bit big, he’s a gross-doing horse and he just blew out.

“He got held up and found the line OK to be beaten I think two lengths.

“He’s taken benefit from that but I probably wish it was 1200m rather than 1100m … but he’ll be thereabouts.

“As long as he’s hitting the line, we’ll push on to The Goodwood with him.”

All-in The Goodwood odds are already open and have Weir’s All Aged Stakes runner-up Black Heart Bart as the firm $4 favourite.

Nostradamus can be found at the other end of those futures The Goodwood betting markets at $51, a quote that is sure to firm if he can come out and win this weekend.

One horse out of The Goodwood contention however is Elvstorem five-year-old Hucklebuck, last seen running eighth to champion mare Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in Sydney.

“He came back from Sydney and I just wasn’t that happy with him,” Stokes explained.

“He’s gone to the paddock and you’ll see him during the spring.”

Stokes is also shooting for a Black Type win on Saturday with Miss Gunpowder in the last, the filly contesting the $100,000 Listed Redelva Stakes (1100m) on way to next month’s $400,000 Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m).

Now is the ideal time to discover the benefits of betting online with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the hottest Adelaide odds on offer this weekend and for the future Group 1 features!