Rising star Richard Stomper (NZ) (El Roca) may have earned himself a shot at the Gr.3 TAB Mile (1600m) during New Zealand Cup Week after claiming another impressive victory at Ashburton on Sunday.
Richard Stomper has been patiently handled by trainer Stephanie Faulkner, with a successful four-year-old season highlighted by a win in one of the ODT Southern Qualifier races in January.
A slight ligament injury ruled Richard Stomper out of contesting the ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m) in March, but the gelding has come back bigger and stronger this campaign, finishing boldly over 1200m when resuming, before winning over the mile at Ashburton last month.
Stepping up to open company on Sunday, Richard Stomper was rated a $5.20 hope behind well-performed mares Ears Back ($2.80) and Epee Beel ($3.40).
Ears Back swiftly skipped to the lead from her wide draw, being left to control the pace ahead of Deep Beauty. Richard Stomper sat inside of his stablemate Green Luck in the one-one under Brandon May, tracking the leaders before coming to the centre of the track on straightening. Ears Back set a task for the gelding and held on bravely, but Richard Stomper bounded over the top in the final strides to win by a neck.
Timaru-based Faulkner had been quietly confident coming into the race and was duly rewarded.
“I knew he would be the one to beat today, I don’t like being too confident but he’d come through his last win extra well and he’s a lovely forward-going horse,” she said.
“He’s still doing a few things wrong, Brandon said he was jumping bare patches on the track in the race and he still isn’t totally focussed. When Lyn’s horse (Deep Beauty) came around him, he got on the job and knew he was in a race.
“He had a ligament injury before the Southern Mile, we thought he would be a really good chance in that but he had a slight issue so we gave him a reasonable spell.
“I just kept him at home, looked after him through the winter and worked him up quietly. It wasn’t until I looked at a photo of when he came back in last year that I realised how much he’s matured since then, he’s a big horse. He’s just continued to strengthen each month.
“He’s pretty exciting.”
Cup Week will commence this Saturday at Riccarton Park and Faulkner had initially intended to start Richard Stomper on the final day, but a change of plans may be in order.
“Originally, we were going to take him to the 75 mile on the last day, but his owner is a very keen man and he would like to pay a late nomination for the TAB Mile,” she said.
“It’s all going to depend on the points, he may not have enough to get in because we’ll be sitting down around the 20-21 mark I think. I guess we’ll find out in the next day or two, but that’s the plan.
“Brandon said he’ll be better in stronger company, because he’ll have to concentrate the whole way.”
Bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey, Richard Stomper was initially trained in his first two starts by Mark Walker, before being sold to part-owner Richard Preston for just $900 through a gavelhouse.com auction in February 2023.
The five-year-old has subsequently earned just shy of $90,000 in stakes, with four wins and five minor placings from his 16 starts.
Faulkner was also pleased with the efforts of Group Three winner Green Luck (Street Cry), who stuck on well under the top-weight to finish fifth.
“He’s just at that stage where he’s a little bit one-paced over a mile,” she said.
“The Open 2000m on the middle day of Cup Week will be his target, hopefully with Amber (Riddell, apprentice jockey) on to get the weight relief. She’s down to three kilos (claim) after today which is exciting for her, she’s a good young rider coming through the ranks.”
