Trainer Phillip Stokes issued a clear set of instructions before Saturday’s Gothic Stakes at Caulfield, jockey Dom Tourneur executed them perfectly and talented galloper Hucklebuck did the rest.
In a continuation of the stable’s recent success in Melbourne, Hucklebuck put himself into the top bracket of three-year-olds with a comfortable win that made amends for a luckless effort at Moonee Valley at his previous run.
Hucklebuck winning the Gothic Stakes at Caulfield - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
“I told Dom I didn’t want any hard luck stories today,” Stokes said.
“I wanted him to be positive, so I wasn’t worried about him lobbing outside the leader.”
Stokes had already enjoyed stakes race success with Eclair Big Bang in the Guineas Prelude at Caulfield three weeks ago, and his belief that Hucklebuck, the $3 favourite, can go further than his stablemate was backed by his two-length win.
Tourneur put the son of Elvstroem outside the leader from the jump and Hucklebuck travelled sweetly until the 300m when given his head.
Le Mans ($21) ran on fairly for second, a length ahead of Olivier ($31).
The Listed victory more than doubled Hucklebuck’s race earnings and more than covered his $50,000 purchase price.
It also proved Stokes’ judgment to be spot on.
“I trained his mother and she showed a lot of ability but broke down early, and I liked him as a type,” he said.
Tourneur said Stokes’ pre-race pep talk gave him the confidence to take a forward position and the rest proved routine.
“I knew he could be versatile and I thought he had the wood on them today,” Tourneur said.
“So I just wanted to keep him out of trouble.”
Hucklebuck, whose win dragged a $600,000 payout from the TAB’s bookmaking arm, is likely to be set for the Group Three Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2.
