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By Ray Hickson

He knows it’s not the ‘grand final’ but jockey Sam Clipperton says he wouldn’t put it past tough stayer Stockman to play a role in the finish of Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5m Kia Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.

Jockey Sam Clipperton (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The Tancred is set to be the first of three consecutive Saturdays on the track for Stockman as trainer Joe Pride builds him up towards the $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) but, as we’ve already seen in recent weeks, wet trackers on the back up has been a winning formula.

Clipperton concedes the gelding isn’t suited at weight-for-age but he has a number of other factors, not least the ground, that suggest he shouldn’t be discounted as a chance.

“If you asked me if he could win a Tancred under normal circumstances, probably not. But with the rain around you’d have to say he ticks a few boxes,’’ Clipperton said.

“He’s a really tough horse, he loves a wet track, there’s no concerns at the trip and he’s in good form.

“You’d have to say he’s a chance with the probability of a testing heavy track.

“If he came out and won I certainly wouldn’t be shocked. If he worked home and ran a nice third or fourth that wouldn’t surprise me either.

“He’s probably the most genuine stayer in the field and certainly a horse that is going to relish the conditions.”

Stockman has had seven heavy track starts for four wins and two seconds, his only unplaced run coming first-up in the Group 1 Chipping Norton, and that’s largely why he’s kept safe at $14 with TAB on Friday.

Pride’s plan for Stockman, who has 51kg in the Sydney Cup, is to back him up in next week’s Group 2 Chairmans Quality (2600m) and again into the 3200m test.

Clipperton has been pleased with the gelding’s efforts in both runs back and said he showed he’s on target for his main autumn aim when he out-toughed Mount Popa to win the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) two weeks ago.

“His run was a solid pass mark in the Chipping Norton, but that was over a mile and I remember Joe saying he just had him a little underdone going into that race,’’ he said.

“He improved beautifully going into the Sky High.

“Realistically if he can just run an encouraging race at weight-for-age level before he goes back to the handicaps that’d be great for Joe and the connections.

“At the same time there’s no reason why we can’t go out there and do our best to give the race a big shake.

“It’s not as important to take up a position in a 2400m race on wet ground, more or less you’ve got to switch him off for most of the race and worry about the race at the 600m. I’m hoping when I give him a click up at the 600m he’ll be right there for me and I’ll know we’re in business.”

Stockman wins the Sky High Stakes on March 12

Mirra Vision produced a career best performance on a heavy track two weeks ago to finish second to Lighthouse in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic and Clipperton said he can only hope the mare reproduces that effort on Saturday.

He’s certain she’s a better horse on firmer footing, her record shows that, but she’ll have to contend with heavy again in the Group 2 $200,000 Canadian Club Emancipation Stakes (1500m).

“She’s probably a horse I didn’t want the rain to come for,’’ he said.

“She’s extremely effective on a soft 6 or better, the heavy track seems to take away her brilliance.

“In saying that in the Coolmore Classic she ran the race of her career but I still feel like she wasn’t that happy in the ground. It goes to show how well the mare’s going.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Rosehill meeting