Stockman Brings Up Stakes Treble for Tavistock

Media Release - Saturday March 12

While the NZ suffix was dominating the Flemington card on Saturday, Stockman made sure there was plenty of Kiwi flavour at Rosehill when winning the Group III Sky High Stakes (2000m).

He was the third stakes-winner for Tavistock on Saturday following on from Ruthless Dame (read about her here) and Flying Mascot (read about her here).

Stockman wins the G3 Sky High Stakes - image Steve Hart

The widest on the track turning for home, Stockman was able to rally and wear down his rivals and kicked on for a half-length victory over Mount Popa, with a further 2-1/4 lengths back to Great House in third.

The Heavy9 track conditions suited the wet track specialist down to the ground and trainer Joe Pride was rapt with the result.

“The last time he won on a Good track was in a maiden at Goulburn, so he is clearly a gun wet-tracker,” Pride said.

“At this time of year he is going to get plenty of those (Heavy tracks), so it is the right time of year to have him up.”

While the son of Tavistock tailed the field home in the Gr.1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick last month, Pride wasn’t disheartened, knowing his charge needed the run.

“He needed the run the other day. He went in seven weeks between runs into the weight-for-age race and he was spot on for today,” he said.

Advertisement

The Warwick Farm trainer now has lofty ambitions with his gelding over further ground, eyeing a tilt at the Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m)

“I would love to see him run the two miles and I think he will,” Pride said.

“A Tavistock out of a Zabeel mare suggests that he will get that kind of trip.

“He just gets better as he gets older. He is an exciting prospect, he has been around for a little while now.

“It is great to have a horse like him up at this time of year. We still haven’t seen the best of him and he can really stay.”

Stockman was the third Group Three winner on Saturday for former Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock, with his two-year-old filly Ruthless Dame successful down the Flemington straight in the Gr.3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) before Flying Mascot saluted in the Gr.3 Matron Stakes (1600m), also at the premier Melbourne course. 

Stockman was purchased out of Cambridge Stud’s 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale draft by Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds and John Thompson for $175,000. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Furphy Sky High Stakes Gr3 2000m

Rosehill Track: Heavy(8) Time: 2:05.20
1
Stockman
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Crimson (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: S Clipperton 55
2
0.4
Mount Popa
- 7g Maxios (GB) x Mimalia (USA) (Silver Hawk (USA))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: W Pike 55
3
2.2
Great House
- 5g Galileo (IRE) x Anja (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: C Schofield 55.5
4
2.4
Sky Lab
- 4g Real Impact (JPN) x Gold Mission (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: P M Perry Rdr: K S Latham 55
5
2.7
Le Baol
- 6g Orpen (USA) x La Teranga (FR) (Beat Hollow (GB))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: J R Collett 55
6
3.1
Spirit Ridge
- 7g Nathaniel (IRE) x Tates Creek (USA) (Rahy (USA))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: Tom Sherry 55.5
7
8.1
Savvy Valentino
- 5g Savabeel (AUS) x High Fashion (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Mick Shepherdson Rdr: Rachel King 55
More Reading...
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 MVRC Cox Plate
An emotional week in Australasian racing approaches its crescendo as we count down to the final Cox Plate before a radical new era in its history begins and we mourn the passing of one of its greatest champions.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday morning featured a couple of juvenile heats and both winners came out of the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions with one topping the sale at $2.8million and the other selling for a modest $150,000.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
NZB Breeze Up Footage Now Available to View Online
The highly anticipated Breeze Up videos for NZB’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale are now available to view online at nzb.co.nz.
Melbourne Cup Next for UK Raider Onesmoothoperator
Winner of the Group III Geelong Cup last year at his first Australian appearance, UK trained stayer Onesmoothoperator (USA) had not won a race since then but was back in the winning groove last night take out the $750,000 Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).