Local stayer Taramansour delivered trainer Phillip Stokes his long-awaited first victory in the Pakenham Cup with a powerful staying performance.

Stokes, who maintains stables at Morphettville and Pakenham, has held the race in high regard since the Pakenham facility expanded in 2019. On Saturday, his patience paid off in the Listed 2500-metre contest.

Despite stablemate Skippers Canyon starting the $2.70 favourite, it was Taramansour ($26) who surged away for a dominant 3-¼ length victory over Star Vega ($17), with Etna Rosso ($8.50) finishing close behind.

Taramansour had already raced more than 17 kilometres this campaign, beginning in July, and a lacklustre run at Caulfield last start had prompted some owners to consider retirement.

Stokes convinced them otherwise.

“After his last run, a few of the owners said let’s retire him, let’s tip him out, but I said ‘no, he’s going OK’,” Stokes said.

“We changed things up and I really need to thank Ross Elliot, who has been schooling him out the back. It’s made a big difference.”

Riding tactics were altered too, with Stokes instructing Luke Currie to be positive early.

Currie said it wasn’t straightforward.

“It took a long time to get back into a spot,” he said.

“I got beaten to a spot twice going around the first corner and I thought I’ve missed the boat. But I eventually got in, he pulled, and once he made his run, there was no point trying to stop him.”

Currie eased him into clear running and Taramansour sustained a long, strong finish.

Stokes identified the Bagot Handicap (2800m) on New Year’s Eve as the next assignment.

“He’s a rising 10-year-old, so there’s not much point stopping him,” he said.

Currie added that a small reminder late helped keep his mind on the job.

“He wandered a bit, but switching the stick switched him back on and he was strong through the line.”

Compare the best Australian betting sites at this bookmaker list.