Racing: Stam's the man to launch Cup rocket

In the absence of Riccarton jockey Jamie Bullard, Otaki trainer Howie Mathews has recalled Foxton apprentice Ronald Stam for Lookatmelads in the $20,000 Woodville-Pahiatua Cup (1600m) at Woodville today.

Bullard has commitments at the Kumara races on the West Coast, but Mathews, who trains in partnership with wife Lorraine, is happy to have Stam back aboard.

"Ron's not a high-profile jockey by any means, but he has a pretty good strike rate and we like his riding a lot," Mathews said.

"He grinds away at his job and gets results."

Mathews said Stam was still able to ride around the 50 to 51kg mark, and "he does suit this mare [Lookatmelads] very well."

Bullard has won three races on the horse, but Stam won a 1200m progressive grade event on the College Chapel five-year-old at Awapuni in November.

"We were very impressed with his ride that day.

"He just put her to sleep until it was time to go, and Lookatmelads finished like a rocket for him," Mathews said.

Lookatmelads has an enviable record of four wins, three seconds and two thirds from 13 starts for semi-retired couple, Bruce and Mary Carter, of Karaka in South Auckland.

Mathews was not worried by the rain in the region over the past few days and was ready for any track conditions Woodville throws up.

"She has won twice on top of the ground and once in the wet last start, so I'm probably one of the few trainers taking the wet weather on the chin at the moment," he said.

"The draw is more of a concern, but the horses do have a good run out of the 1600m chute at Woodville, then a slight dogleg before the run down the back straight before they make the first bend at the half-mile (800m).

"Hopefully, our jockey will be able to sneak across, get some cover in mid-field and put her to sleep again."

- NZPA