“It’s a race that stops the whole nation. Everyone talks about it. It’s an amazing race,” Stokes said.

For co-owner Terry Henderson – who has already tasted success with his 1995 Cup win – the early ballot exemption allows for a more strategic preparation. “Now we can actually focus on getting to the Cup without worrying about extra weight or needing to win again,” he explained.

Assistant trainer Shae Dinunzio knows there’s still a long road ahead to the big day: “It’s exciting, but it’s still head down, bum up – we’ve got to get the job done.”