Stampede has been out of the winner's circle since October last year but when the son of High Chaparral (IRE) is gifted an easy run in front, as he did in Saturday's Group III Colin Stephen Stakes (2400m) at Randwick, he proves very difficult to get by.
Eased across to take up the running by Adam Hyeronimus, Stampede kept up a relentless gallop in the straight to turn back the challenge of Master Of Arts (Mastercraftsman) by two lengths with Maurus (GB) (Medicean) three-quarter of a length back in third. (images Steve Hart )
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 7yo gelding advances his record to 8 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third from 21 starts with earnings of $590,275.
Stampede is entered in next week's Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick a race that Gai Waterhouse has an exceptional record in however Adrian Bott was non-committal on a start. 
"He got into a nice rhythm and was able to get all the favours in front and Adam (Hyeronimus) rated him beautifully so he was able to pick up when he needed to and show a good turn of foot over the trip so pleasing to see," Bott told AAP.
"Adam gets on with him so well when he can just get out there and rate him kindly.
"We know he's got that turn of speed and now that we can see him stay that trip we've got a few more options going forward.
"We'll leave the Metropolitan open without committing to it just yet.
"It would mean going three weeks in a row but when he's racing like that it's hard to ignore it."
Purchased by G Waterhouse/J Harron/Round Table Racing for $80,000 out of the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Stampede is a brother to the dual Group III winner Thinkin' Big, who won the Gloaming Stakes twelve months ago, and a three-quarter brother to Just Thinkin' (g. by So You Think) who won the Listed Dulcify Stakes and finished fourth in Saturday's Group III Gloaming Stakes.
They are all out of the stakes-placed Tale Of The Cat (USA) mare Nothin' Leica Cat who was runner-up in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and fourth in the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks.
Purchased as a yearling in 2007 for $150,000 by Dodmark Thoroughbreds, Nothin' Leica Cat has a yearling colt by American Pharoah (USA) and was covered by the Triple Crown winner again last spring.
