Joe Pride with a perfect three at Rosehill
Joe Pride might be tempted to take an overseas holiday more often after producing a winning treble at Rosehill despite being on a rare family break.
Smart mare Lekvarte opened the trainer’s account in the fifth race before Dragonstone took out the Starlight Stakes (1100m), while stayer Stockman added the icing to the cake when he sailed down the outside to claim the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m).
Deputising for Pride, racing manager Orla Pearl said she felt their three runners were strong chances but was thrilled to get the clean sweep.
“I said, we’re going to get three today and three of them have come up. It’s been brilliant,” Pearl said.
“I have to say, Stockman has been so deserving. We didn’t get the rain but obviously he has been able to get his toe in and it was a brilliant ride by Reece (Jones).”
Eight of Stockman’s nine wins have now been on rain-affected ground and while he prefers it even damper than the improving soft 5 surface he struck at Rosehill, it was enough to help him turn his form around.
Pearl said Stockman had been struggling to produce his best on the predominantly firm spring tracks but the stable had been confident he was going well.
Saturday’s success was his first since claiming the St Leger Stakes 13 months ago and it came in a deceptively close photo finish after runner-up Little Mix kicked back on the line.
“We celebrated a bit too early and then when I turned around, I thought, óh’. But he’s won it,” Pearl said.
“In Newcastle (last start), it was just too firm for him but the last run here he ran super, third or fourth he came, and it was a similar track.”
Jones said Stockman travelled nicely in the run and was strong at the business end of the race.
“The further we went, the stronger he went to the line,” Jones said.
Like Everest winner Think About It and third placegetter Private Eye, Stockman is a Proven Thoroughbreds syndication and has now accumulated more than $1.7 million in stakes.
Director Jamie Walter was on track but said he’d leave it to Pride to determine plans for the Christmas Cup winner.
“It’s up to the trainer, he gets back on Monday from Japan,” Walter said.
“But he’s a beautiful old horse and we’re absolutely thrilled.”
Stockman ($14) got the verdict by a nose over Little Mix ($6.50) with last year’s winner Torrens ($8) three-quarters of a length away third.
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...