The Joe Pride-trained Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock) made it back to back stakes victories after taking out the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) on Sunday under a perfect Ryan Maloney ride.
Dispatched north by Pride after a strong win in the Listed McKell Cup (2200m) last start, Stockman’s win in the Sunshine Coast feature came 8 days after the race was initially scheduled, with heavy rain forcing the meeting to be postponed.
Sent out a short-priced favourite, Stockman had half a length to spare on Cellarmaid (Husson) and capped a good week for jockey Ryan Moloney, who netted seven wins to take a clear lead in the jockeys’ premiership.
Stockman looked likely to run out a ready winner when cruising coming around the home bend, but had to dig deep when challenged by the runner-up.
“He was certainly the class runner in the race other than Wu Gok and with the weight in his favour it was pretty much all over bar the shouting. Then at the furlong he was labouring a little bit, then when Cellarmaid came up to me, he just found enough,” Maloney said.
“He does no work during the run and I got going on the corner, Wu Gok was gone and I knew we would stay the trip.
“Joe did say after today he was probably going to the paddock. He was so dominant the other day so it was always going to be hard to replicate but he found enough and I dare say he has another win in him.”
The four-year-old gedling has now won six races and A$413,265 in prizemoney.
By the late Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock, who has a final crop of yearlings to be offered at Karaka 2022, Stockman is one of 31 individual stakes winners for his sire.
The gelding is out of the Group Two winning Zabeel mare Crimson, dam of multiple Group Two winner Abidewithme and Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) runner-up Miss Scarlatti.
Bred by Sir Patrick & Lady Justine Hogan, Stockman was sold through the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sales for $175,000 to Jamie Walter of Proven Thoroughbreds.