Michelle Mallia’s run of success rolled on with Stomping a dominant winner of the McKenna Memorial at Sandown Park on Thursday night.
He overcame an awkward draw to cross and lead in the early stages. From then he turned it into a demolition, winning by over six lengths and defeating the fastest heat winner Ethanol Water and Melbourne Cup runner-up Big Energy in a sharp time of 34.09.
“He nailed the start tonight and got himself across. He just ran away with it, it was amazing,” said trainer Michelle Mallia.
Since late last year Stomping has developed a reputation as one of Victoria’s more consistent performers over the middle-distance.
“He’s been knocking on the door to win a major race. He was unlucky at Sale and there’s been a couple of other races that he’s been unlucky in at The Meadows,” Mallia said.
For Mallia, the McKenna triumph follows the country cup success of Matt Loch and Fernando Phil in the past year – all home grown talent.
“They are all going so well. Matt Loch, Stomping and Fernando Phil as well, we whelped their mum’s and we whelped them – it’s so rewarding.”
Stomping gives the impression that he may be capable of stepping up to ‘700 metres’, the upcoming National Distance series in August is a potential target, however Mallia will need time to consider that.
“We definitely will (try over ‘700’ metres), I’m deciding whether to do it or keep him sprinting and have a crack at the Maturity and Melbourne Cup.”
The McKenna Memorial is named in honour of Jack McKenna who was one of the sport’s most famous administrators.
Earlier in the night, Flying Envy produced the fifth fastest time of the year over 595m with 33.96 for trainers Terry and Kim Erenshaw.
Not long after gun sprinter In The Hub was sensational in the Free-For-All, again. His time of 29.18 is the sixth occasion that he’s ran 29.21 or faster, he holds four of the top five fastest times this year – only split by Big Energy’s 29.153 which sits 3rd. He also holds four of the top seven times to the back split (this year), spanning from 18.55 to 18.61. Go behind the scenes with In The Hub and David Crawford after the win – see below.
