To complement that busy involvement, Stockton and his family run Wingate Farm, a renowned breeding farm 15 kilometers south-west of Wagga.
Currently in the midst of one of his busiest times of the year, preparing yearlings for the upcoming Sydney sale, Stockton is working with his son Jack to prepare a team of pacers and on Friday evening he will be heading to the Albury Carnival of Cups where he has engaged three runners.
“We somehow find a way to get the job done, it’s definitely a team effort,” Stockton said.
“I am very happy with how our yearlings look on their way to sale.
“Jack and the horse team we race with are also doing well.”
Asked to pick one yearling he would like to see pass through the sales ring, Stockton was quick to name his colt by Sweet Lou out of Delightful Jackie, a mare who produced last season’s handy juvenile Dynamite Dan and has a sensational pedigree of her own.
“He’s a beautiful colt,” he said.
“Jackie’s first two foals have appeared on the track and I am very curious to see what this guy can produce.
“He should be the choice of a very strong version that we sell.”
On Friday in Albury, Stockton stable star View The Art will be in the hunt for a guaranteed spot at the $150,000 State Regional Championships Final at Menangle in May, when she will compete in the $25,500 TAB Regional Championships Fast Pass.
The six-year-old mare, ridden by Taylah Osmond, has mixed her form of late but if she can reproduce her run five starts ago, when she finished second behind Tokyo Rose at Tabcorp Park Menangle in 1:48.3, she will be tough to beat.
“She’s been a good mare for us, and I think she deserves a chance in a race like this,” Stockton said.
“She was favorite in the Riverina Championship Final in November but things just weren’t going well for her.
“I think if she can find her best form tonight, she will come very close.
“Her work throughout the week was very sharp and hopefully we get the luck we need from her handy gate one draw.”
For full race entries, click here.
Through Michael Dumesnyfor HRNSW
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