The statistics aligned for superior wet tracker STOCKMAN at Rosehill Saturday as the Joe Pride-trained gelding took out the $350,000 Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m).
The first leg of an interstate double for Proven Thoroughbreds, STOCKMAN relished a rain-sodden surface to register his 7th career win, approximately an hour and a half before the Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted-trained CONTEMPTUOUS achieved the same number of wins in the 1200m Open Handicap at Eagle Farm.
STOCKMAN is well known for his exemplary heavy track record. With 4 wins and 2 seconds from 7 starts, the lone time he’s been worse than runner up was when he gave the great mare VERRY ELLEEGANT 2kgs under the weight-for-age scale in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes last start, resulting in a 4.6 length defeat.
His record at Rosehill is equally enviable. With 2 wins and 5 placings from 8 starts, his only blemish is a close 4th in last year’s Listed Winter Cup.
Rider Sam Clipperton has also developed a strong affinity with the six-year-old, producing 4 wins (2 at STAKES level) and 3 seconds from just 10 rides.
“I must say it was a good effort, Mount Popa challenged and he wasn’t going to let him get past. I just love riding him, he’s a gentleman”, said a delighted Clipperton post-race.
“Look, he’s going to relish a trip, just relaxes and he’s a real tradesman. That was a $350k race today so he’s getting his prizemoney up there now and he’s a winner.”
Pride said he is keeping an open mind as to how STOCKMAN will prepare for his primary target of the carnival – the $2 million Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 9.
“I’ve got an open plan about what we do with him for the rest of the Autumn Carnival. I just want to get him to the Sydney Cup and there are a few different pathways to get there.”
The aforementioned CONTEMPTUOUS has also struck career best form. His first-up triumph at Eagle Farm under promising apprentice Jaden Lloyd was not only his first attempt at open company, but his fourth successive win after stringing together a hat-trick at the end of last preparation.
“We might find something for him over the Carnival now that he’s broken through in this grade,” suggested O’Dea.
“He really helps himself these days by switching off when taking a trail and going 1200m first up from the soft gate was perfect.”
Saturday’s double took Proven’s tally of winners for the season to 41.
STOCKMAN becomes our fourth individual stakes winner this season, following PRIVATE EYE (Epsom Handicap), SCALLOPINI (Sunshine Coast Cup) and PALAZZO SPIRIT (Phelan Ready Stakes).