Stonebrook has extended his unbeaten record on his metropolitan debut to give co-trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott reason to explore autumn targets.
The four-year-old gelding transferred his provincial form to Canterbury, repelling Godolphin’s $1.75 favourite Marsupial.
Stonebrook debuted at Hawkesbury in April and resumed at Kembla Grange last month over 1200m before making an encouraging step up in class in a Benchmark 70 Handicap (1250m).
“It was a good tough effort, he was able to bounce out well and put himself on the speed and take any hard luck out of the equation,” Bott said.
“He was tough on the line, he is a horse that keeps improving, he’s quite raw as we saw at Kembla Grange.”
Stonebrook ($4) set the tempo under Adam Hyeronimus and kicked clear when Marsupial issued a brief challenge down the straight.
“It’s a great asset to have that early tactical speed and I think we’ll continue to see him improving as he steps up over further. He’ll get out to the mile in time.”
Bott said Stonebrook would initially continue to work through the grades.
“He’s still learning. He’ll be a nice horse for us over the summer and once we see him put it all together then we can look for better targets in the autumn.”
Hyeronimus was impressed after Stonebrook regained focus after wavering on the home turn.
“He’s still quite new, coming round the turn he was looking around but once the other horses loomed up and put a bit of pressure on him he went away from them.”
Chris Waller heads to Melbourne to oversee Winx’s lead in the Turnbull Stakes after notching a double.
Kaonic highlighted Waller’s team on Wednesday by reeling in breakaway frontrunner Delos to claim a 1500m Maiden as the $1.75 favourite.
“There was plenty of intensity about the race, he fought strongly. I love the way he lengthened in the last 200 metres.” Waller said.
“He has a good action and it looks like he’s got a good future.”
