Local galloper Taramansour has turned around his form to give trainer Phillip Stokes his first win in the Pakenham Cup.
Stokes, who runs a dual state operation with a stable at Morphettville, was an early arrival when the Pakenham base expanded in 2019 and has always coveted a Pakenham Cup success.
That victory came in Saturday’s Listed race over 2500m, although stablemate Skippers Canyon was more favoured to do so being sent out the $2.70 favourite.
But under a smart ride from Luke Currie, Taramansour ($26) registered a 3-ÂĽ length win from Star Vega ($17) with Etna Rosso ($8.50) a short-head away third.
Taramansour began his current campaign in July and prior to Saturday’s outing had notched up more than 17,000 metres under race conditions.
There were some in the ownership group that had called for Taramansour’s retirement following his last start eighth of nine over 2400m at Caulfield on November 29.
Stokes encouraged the connections to persist, believing the rising 10-year-old was going better than what his form indicated.
“After his last run, a few of the owners said let’s retire him, let’s tip him out, but I said ‘no, he’s going OK’,” Stokes said.
“We changed things up a bit and I have to give a big thank-you to the team behind us, especially Ross Elliot.
“He’s been schooling him out the back, and I think that’s really helped him.”
Stokes and the team elected to also change tactics on the gelding and push forward, rather than ride him from a rearwards position as he had been in recent assignments.
The tactic worked and Currie was able to creep forward prior to straightening.
Stokes said the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Eve was the likely next suitable option for the gelding.
“He’s a rising 10-year-old, so there’s not much point stopping him,” Stokes said.
Currie said Taramansour endured a tough first part of the race and being positive out of the gates.
“It took a long time to get back into a spot,” Currie said.
“I got beaten to a spot twice going around the first corner and I thought I’ve missed the boat, but I ended up getting in and he just pulled.
“By the time we got half-way around the corner, I thought there was no point in stopping him as he had made his move.
“I was happy to come out to the middle and make our run there.
“He wandered a little being on his own and I pulled the stick through to the left which sometimes, especially with horses out in front, it can switch them back on, which it did, and he was strong through the line off a pretty tough run.”
