South Australian mare Miss Pavlova defied the early racing pattern, swooping from the rear of the field to produce an emotional victory for trainer Bill Smart in the Allan Wicks Handicap (2390m) at Caulfield this afternoon.

Smart, who has a small team of five horses at his Morphettville stables, dedicated the win of Miss Pavlova to the memory of brother-in-law and duel Caulfield Cup winning jockey John Stocker after the 61 year old lost his battle with cancer, passing away in his sleep yesterday morning.

'It is fitting that she has won this race,' Smart said.

'It is pretty emotional.'

With on-pace runners winning the first three races on the card, some riders were keen to be more positive from the stalls. As a result, there was a line of four runners out of the first turn with favourite Schawimen holding the lead.

When the pace steadied mid-race, Cocojet whipped around the outside to keep the pace genuine while Miss Pavlova sat at the rear of the field and later latched onto the back of Fast Ruler making a wide run around the field.

Miss Pavlova ($5.50-$6.50) was the fresh horse on the scene in the straight, finishing too strongly for Schawmen ($3-$3.70-$3.30 fav) and beating it a length and a quarter with Good Red ($4.80-$6.50) a further half head back in third.

Upon returning to scale, jockey Peter Mertens was pleased to witness the race from the back of the field run at an even tempo.

“It was genuine, not too hard but consistent. They didn’t stop and start so that suited my mare.”

“Once I stoked her up at the 100m I didn’t think I was going to get there but then she finished them off,” Mertens said.

Smart was full of praise for the four year old mare by Blevic.

“It was an excellent win,” before adding, “It shows that she can stay.”

And with that staying potential in mind, Smart has set his sights for the Port Adelaide Cup (2250m) at listed level on February 14 at Cheltenham as he major target.

“I mainly brought her over to see if she could run a distance for the Port Adelaide Cup.”

Despite collecting the $36,000 winners’ cheque this afternoon, Smart described Miss Pavlova’ win as a “hit and run” from South Australia with her to stay west of the Victorian border this preparation.

Black armbands were worn by jockeys in the first event at Randwick this afternoon out of respect for Stocker who won the 1964 Caulfield Cup on Yangtze.

However it was the ride Stocker produced in the 1976 Caulfield Cup that is forever etched in racing folklore.

Under the guidance of Stocker, How Now joined Leilani in becoming the second mare to win the AJC Oaks and Caulfield Cup in the same year after the mare was able to overcome the third from outside barrier.  

Stocker was inducted into the South Australian Racing Hall of Fame in August 2006 for a career that lasted 24 years and included winners in five different countries.

Carl Di Iorio Media Release Published 26/12/08