3 minute read

The Sydney Cup is the goal for Stockman following his Sky High Stakes success.

Joe Pride is hoping the rain-affected conditions continue into the autumn as he plots a Sydney Cup raid with wet track specialist Stockman. 

The five-year-old took his record to seven wins from 28 starts with victory in Saturday's Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and tellingly, all but one of his successes have been on soft and heavy tracks. 

"He is clearly an absolute gun wet tracker and at this time of year he is going to get plenty of those," Pride said. 

"It's the right time of year to have him up. 

"I would love to see him run the two miles and I think he will. By Tavistock out of a Zabeel mare suggests he will get that kind of trip. 

"We have looked after him from day one, bought him as a yearling and nurtured him and we are seeing the rewards now he's a five-year-old." 

Ridden by Sam Clipperton, Stockman was allowed to find his feet early before getting to the outside and reeling in Mount Poppa to score by a long neck with Great House another 1-3/4 lengths further back. 

Pride isn't sure what path he will follow to get to the Sydney Cup, but he is content to keep his options open. 

"He could be here in two weeks for the Tancred Stakes because I don't think we will back him up next week in the Queen's Cup as he will get too much weight," Pride said. 

"There is also the Chairman's (Handicap) to think about so he will have one, maybe two runs into the Sydney Cup as he is a very tough horse." 

Stockman salutes in the Sky High after a duel up the straight with Mount Popa!@PrideRacing @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/p1LudxulHJ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 12, 2022