Twenty-year-old Stockdale has been slow to get going because of two serious leg injuries earlier in his career, but he is making up for lost time: he only rode his first city winner in November, but his tally now stands at 16.
THE LINDSAY PARK training partnership of David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have to pay a $4500 fine after their filly Madeira Bay tested positive in a post-race blood test to the prohibited substance Lignocaine after winning a 1600-metre maiden at Wagga Wagga earlier this year.
A Racing NSW inquiry was unable to establish the reasons for the detection of Lignocaine in the post-race blood sample taken from the horse, the stewards report said.
The trio subsequently pleaded guilty to a charge under AR240(2) of having brought Madeira Bay to Wagga Wagga racecourse on Thursday, February 13, 2020, for the purpose of participating in race four, The Maiden Plate 1600m.
''Having considered relevant matters in respect to penalty, including the training partnership’s guilty plea, excellent record and forthright evidence, a fine of $4500 was imposed,'' the stewards report said.
CRAIG WILLIAMS would love to be back in the saddle, but he can only look on TV to see how his Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare gets on when he lines up in the $2 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday afternoon with Glen Boss deputising.
Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare is racing at Randwick on Saturday.Credit:Getty Images
Despite this race being over 2000 metres, Williams is expecting a forward show from his Cup winner.
''In a normal year I would be riding in Sydney and looking forward to riding him. I rode him in a gallop because he came to Bendigo and galloped in between races. The horse is excellent, he is going exceptionally well.
''He will be running a great race and showing that he has really come on from his success in the Melbourne Cup. He had to make the jump from handicapper to weight-for-age horse, and he has.''
SOME promising young stayers turn out in the Galilee Series final and Relucent from the Chris Waller yard will be in warm order. Last time out he ran fourth in the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill behind Quick Thinker and Zebrowski, who subsequently quinellaed the Australian Derby.