15 Oct 2022Tavistock’s genuine son Stockman has earned a crack at the G1 Melbourne Cup following a stout performance to add the St Leger Stakes over 2600 metres at Randwick to his record.
“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for the owners and for the horse. He’s a very good, honest, genuine stayer,” trainer Joseph Pride said of his Cambridge Stud graduate.
“He probably needs a bit of a wet track to be effective, but there’s nothing else for him in Sydney.
“He just doesn’t want it rock-hard so he’s got a very good record, he really only gets beaten on those firm tracks.”
Stockman travelled comfortably toward the back of the field in the St Leger before peeling wide 600 metres from home and staying qualities were evident in the straight as he surged clear to win with authority.
“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,” rider Sam Clipperton said.
“I’ve never had a spin in the Melbourne Cup so it would be a great thrill. He’s a great stayer, he’d eat the two miles up.
“He might not have the brilliance of some of them, but he’d have to be one of the strongest stayers in the field.”
Stockman was a $175,000 Karaka purchase with Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds signing the ticket.
He is the last foal of the late Crimson, who was a multiple Group-winning daughter of Zabeel and has done an outstanding job at stud.
She also produced the dual Group 2 winner Abidewithme and the Listed Super Impose Stakes winner and G1 VRC Oaks runner-up Miss Scarlatti as well as the dam of the multiple stakes winner Destiny’s Kiss.