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 Forget him first up. Watch him second up. Get on third up.
It seems that's the way to be with Stokehouse, an all the way winner of the $176,000 Group Two The Yalumba 160 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield today. A seemingly enigmatic galloper who waits his turn to win, Stokehouse is turning into a third up specialist. Winning trainer David Hayes was particularly pleased with Craig Williams' handling of Stokehouse.  "It was a good ride," Hayes said. "We made his intentions early and was able to keep away from them. He got a breather in front."
"When he's fit he can get away with races like that," he added. "He loves 1800 metres and hopefully he will like 2000 metres." It seems unlikely that the 2000 metre race will be next Saturday in the Group One Australian Cup. But Hayes didn't totally rule it out either.  "We'll have a think - perhaps a long lunch at the Stokehouse to work it out."
"We'll probably look towards the Tulloch Stakes in Sydney or the Rosehill Guineas." "But now he's fit and he can roll along in front he's a really hard horse to catch." "With these leaders they normally take a couple of races to fitten then up. They have to be pretty tough to do that." Stokehouse provided David Hayes with his first win in the three-year-old feature event. His father, the legendary CS Hayes, won it last in 1989 with King's High.  Stokehouse ($5.50-$6) just found in the run to the line to hold out Excelltastic ($5.50-$6) by a length.
A nose back in third place was the charging filly Zapurple ($41-$51). The favourite Pre Eminence ($2.50-$2.35 fav) plugged into fourth place and his chances of lining up in next Saturday's Group One Australian Cup must have been dented. Stokehouse, by Anabaa, is one of two winners from the city winning Encosta de Lago mare Malapert. Today's win was his third from 13 starts and his earnings have just passed $300,000 - making his purchase for $100,000 as a yearling look a cheap one. PICS - Quentin Lang.
© 2010 Published 28/02/09
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