Stoneyrise on his way to the big time

A horse from the farthest corner of the state has thrust himself and his trainer into the limelight with victory in the Country Championship heat at Dubbo.

James Hatch and Stoneyrise made the two-day trip literally from the back of Bourke to run in Sunday’s $150,000 race to decide the NSW western district finalists.

Hatch reckons it will take three days to get Stoneyrise to Sydney for the April 1 final but the two will be there.

“We’re going to the big time,” Hatch told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“It took me two days to get here.”

Hatch comes from Hungerford, a drought-affected border town 200 km from Bourke where he has a property with sheep, goats and cattle – and two racehorses.

“It’s what you call out in the sticks,” Hatch said.

“I’m the only trainer there.”

Ridden by Jake Pracey-Holmes, Stoneyrise was a $10 chance and came with a late run to beat the $2.10 favourite La La Loopsy by a length with both horses qualifying for the final.

“I started thinking about this race in October last year when we took this horse to his first TAB meeting at Coonamble,” Hatch said.

“He’s a nice little horse.”

Hatch paid $7500 for Stoneyrise and collected $80,000 for his Dubbo win.