Jake Stockton.
Alfredtown horseman Jake Stockton wears many hats within the harness racing industry - the 41-year-old having good success and an owner, trainer, and driver.
Adding to that busy involvement, Stockton and his family operate Wingate Farm, a well renowned breeding operation 15 kilometres southwest of Wagga.
Currently amid one his busiest times of the year preparing yearlings for the upcoming sales to be held in Sydney, Stockton works alongside his son Jack to prepare a team of pacers and on Friday night will head to the Albury Carnival of Cups where he has three runners engaged.
“We somehow find a way to get the work done, it is certainly a team effort,” said Stockton.
“I am really happy with the way our yearlings look, heading to the sales.
“Jack and the team of horses that we have racing are doing a good job too.”
Asked to single out one yearling that he is looking forward to seeing go through the sale ring, Stockton was quick to name his colt by Sweet Lou out of Delightful Jackie, a mare that produced the handy juvenile from last season Dynamite Dan and has sensational pedigree of her own.
“He is a stunning colt," he said.
“Delightful Jackie’s first two foals have made it to the track, and I am really excited to see what this fella can fetch.
“He has to be the pick of a very strong draft that we are selling.”
At Albury on Friday, Stockton’s stable star View The Art will be chasing a guaranteed spot into the $150,000 State Regional Championships Final at Menangle in May when she will contest the $25,500 TAB Regional Championships Fast Pass.
To be driven by Taylah Osmond, the six-year-old mare has been mixing 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 hard to beat.
“She has been a good mare for us, and I think she deserves a crack at a race like this," said Stockton.
“She started favourite in the Riverina Championship Final back in November, but things just did not go right for her.
“I think if she can find her best form tonight, she will go very close.
“Her work through the week was really sharp and hopefully we get the luck we need from her handy gate one draw.”
