Six-year-old gelding Stockman will take his place in next month’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after a strong staying performance to land the A$500,000 St Leger Stakes (2600m) at Randwick on Everest Day.
The Joe Pride prepared son of Tavistock left his rivals with few excuses, clearing out to score by nearly two lengths from Arapaho with Sacramento back in third.
Stockman, who races in the colours of Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds, has now won in excess of A$1.3 million in prizemoney with eight wins from 35 starts and has a preference for give in the ground, relishing the Soft7 on Saturday.
“He just doesn’t want it rock-hard so he’s got a very good record, he really only gets beat on those firm tracks,” Pride said.
“He deserved that today and it was nice to see him put paid to them.”
Pride confirmed it was all systems go towards the Melbourne Cup, where Stockman has been allotted 54kgs.
“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for the owners and for the horse. He’s a very good, honest, genuine stayer. He’d probably needs a bit of a wet track to be effective, but there’s nothing else for him in Sydney,” Pride said.
“I was going to run him in the Rosehill Cup, the old traditional Saturday before the Tuesday, a burn around over 2000m, but we’ll take him to Melbourne.”
Winning jockey Sam Clipperton was pleased to get the victory off a genuine speed, having finished fourth in the Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) off a slow tempo.
“It was just a beautifully run race. They went along at a lovely clip for everyone to be comfortable and particularly my horse, he’s a strong stayer,” Clipperton said.
“He gets better as he gets out in trip. I was a bit disappointed after the Metropolitan (finishing 4th beaten less than a length), just they went too slow for him.
“I was sort of kicking myself I didn’t do a couple of things different. It’s lovely to win on this horse, he’s been a personal favourite of mine for a long time, and a great bunch of owners.
“He might end up in the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November, so exciting for all involved.”
Bred by Sir Patrick & Lady Justine Hogan, Stockman was purchased out of Cambridge Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds and John Thompson for $175,000.
The Tavistock gelding is out of the Group Two winning Zabeel mare Crimson, dam of multiple Group Two winner Abidewithme and Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) runner-up Miss Scarlatti.