By David Nagel
Trainer Frankie Stockdale has had instant success with a new boarder at his home at the Pakenham racecourse with Plymouth Road scoring a strong win in the $35,000 BM64 Handicap (1200m) at Moe on Thursday.
The eight-year-old gelding has had more homes than the early settlers, arriving at Tynong after stints with Matthew Smith at Warwick Farm, Matthew Williams at Warrnambool, before recently switching to Stockdale from the Sale home of Mario Farrugia.
Thursday’s win – Plymouth Road’s eighth from 52 career starts – was his first run for the Stockdale yard and his fourth win on heavy tracks.
The son of Tavistock/Dastaria settled well back in a big field, with a hot pace set by the spruik horse and race favourite Duke Of Neworleans ($1.80).
Plymouth was ridden for luck by jockey Arron Lynch, who weaved a passage through the middle of the field in the home straight to power home for victory.
Lynch said the heavy track was the secret to Plymouth Road’s turnaround in form.
“He got the run through and he was good, but he just appreciated the ground I think,” Lynch told Racing.com after the race.
“Last start he looked plain, and probably was plain, but getting on the heavy track that has been the turn around.”
Lynch said the rise in distance, from 1000 to 12000 metres, was also a factor in the victory.
“Even today was probably too short, getting out to 1400 is probably more his go,” he said.
“I was confident I had the horse underneath me coming into the corner but we just needed the run through, we got them, and he did the rest.”
Plymouth Road, who has now won aa tick over $280,000 in prizemoney, started a despised outsider at $41 fixed and paid $59.20 on the tote.
Lynch once again put the smile on the face of a Pakenham trainer at Casterton on Sunday when he piloted Locko to victory in the $22,000 0-58 Handicap (1400m).
Trained by Paul Kramer, Locko thoroughly deserved his win with the six-year-old gelding having run seven placings since his last win in March 2020.
Lynch gave the son of Magnus/Princess Pindi a gun run throughout, settling handy before racing clear for a dominant victory in the straight.
Locko has now won three of his 26 starts, and it was no surprise he was strong to the line over the 1400-metre trip with his two previous wins coming over a journey of 1600-metres.
And Jason Bridgman completed another fantastic week for Pakenham-trained horses when his lightly-raced four-year-old gelding Colossal Star scored his breakthrough win at Werribee on Sunday.
Colossal Star showed promising signs at his debut run in September last year, but had failed to finish any closer than six lengths behind the winner at his previous four starts before Sunday’s maiden success.
Jason Benbow rode a confident race on the $61 shot, racing three pairs back before peeling four wide at the 600-metre marker and making his move.
Colossal Star and race favourite Atomic Rock settled down for a two-horse war in the straight, with the son of Hussonet/Origami Miss proving too strong to score by a neck on the line.
Colossal Star might be in for his best campaign yet, with the next horse four lengths away in third place. A humble Benbow said a good gate contributed to the big win.
“Obviously good barriers help with good rides, but he’s a nice horse, he’s always shown us something,” Benbow said, before explaining he had the race favourite Atomic Rock in his sights as the field wheeled for home.
“He (Atomic Rock) probably made me get going a little earlier in the run because I thought he would outsprint us,” Benbow said.
“This bloke (Colossal Star) is a real dour staying type, the family and pedigree suggest that. I knew we were going to be in a fight getting closer to the line but he toughed it out really well.”
