Joe Pride might be tempted to take an overseas holiday more often after producing a winning treble at Rosehill despite being on a rare family break.
Smart mare Lekvarte opened the trainer’s account in the fifth race before Dragonstone took out the Starlight Stakes (1100m), while stayer Stockman added the icing to the cake when he sailed down the outside to claim the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m).
Deputising for Pride, racing manager Orla Pearl said she felt their three runners were strong chances but was thrilled to get the clean sweep.
“I said, we’re going to get three today and three of them have come up. It’s been brilliant,” Pearl said.
“I have to say, Stockman has been so deserving. We didn’t get the rain but obviously he has been able to get his toe in and it was a brilliant ride by Reece (Jones).”
Eight of Stockman’s nine wins have now been on rain-affected ground and while he prefers it even damper than the improving soft 5 surface he struck at Rosehill, it was enough to help him turn his form around.
Pearl said Stockman had been struggling to produce his best on the predominantly firm spring tracks but the stable had been confident he was going well.
Saturday’s success was his first since claiming the St Leger Stakes 13 months ago and it came in a deceptively close photo finish after runner-up Little Mix kicked back on the line.
“We celebrated a bit too early and then when I turned around, I thought, óh’. But he’s won it,” Pearl said.
“In Newcastle (last start), it was just too firm for him but the last run here he ran super, third or fourth he came, and it was a similar track.”
Jones said Stockman travelled nicely in the run and was strong at the business end of the race.
“The further we went, the stronger he went to the line,” Jones said.
Like Everest winner Think About It and third placegetter Private Eye, Stockman is a Proven Thoroughbreds syndication and has now accumulated more than $1.7 million in stakes.
Director Jamie Walter was on track but said he’d leave it to Pride to determine plans for the Christmas Cup winner.
“It’s up to the trainer, he gets back on Monday from Japan,” Walter said.
“But he’s a beautiful old horse and we’re absolutely thrilled.”
Stockman ($14) got the verdict by a nose over Little Mix ($6.50) with last year’s winner Torrens ($8) three-quarters of a length away third.