12 Mar 2022A determined Stockman crowned a terrific day for Tavistock when he dug deep to win the G3 Sky High Stakes at Rosehill.
The Cambridge Stud graduate – he was a $175,000 Karaka purchase – revelled in the wet underfoot conditions to confirm he is on target for a crack at Group 1 honours.
Stockman settled toward the back of a small field and looked to be under pressure before the turn, but responded gallantly to the urgings of rider Sam Clipperton.
They got the front 200 metres from home and proved too strong over the closing stages and the G1 Sydney Cup now looms large in trainer Joseph Pride’s plans.
“I would love to see him over two miles and I think he’ll stay it, he’s by Tavistock out of a Zabeel mare,” he said.
“He’s getting better as he gets older and we still haven’t seen the best of him, he can really stay.
“We’ve looked after him from day one and we’re seeing the rewards now as a five-year-old.”
Stockman is a half-brother to the dual Group 2 winner Abidewithme, whose daughter Tavi With Me won at Pukekohe Park, and added to the late Tavistock’s tally after the Group 3 successes at Flemington of his daughters Ruthless Dame and Flying Mascot.