THE RON STUBBS TRAINED SPARRING TAKES OUT THE FLAT KNACKER FOR THE FOURTH SUCCESSIVE TINE

By Graham Potter | Saturday, March 21, 2026

Local trainer Ron Stubbs barely had time to celebrate his win with Bianco Vilano in the Albury Gold Cup when he found himself back in the winners’ enclosure in the very next race after Sparring, another seven-year-old gelding, had done the stable proud by taking out the 900m Flat Knacker for … wait for it … the fourth successive time!

It reads as a remarkable and very particular form-line.
Sparring won the race in 2023 and 2024. After his 2024 success, he only had four runs (all unplaced) in the following twelve months before lining up again … and winning again in the 2025 edition of the Flat Knacker.

After his 2025 success, Sparring again only had four runs in the following twelve months (three unplaced and one second place finish) before lining up again … and winning again in this year’s running of the Flat Knacker.

Not many horses win the same feature race for four consecutive years, but, while that achievement is notable, the merit of this latest win is deserving of praise it itself.

The Stubbs trained runner carried 63,5kg, 8.5kg more than the runner-up, One Hard Lady, who he beat home by 1.65 lengths after sustaining a strong run down the inside running rail while at no stage giving any hint that he was carrying that very steadying weight burden.

And talk about horses for courses!

This was Sparring’s sixth start at Albury. He has won all six of them.

“He is an unbelievable horse to do what he has done … particularly the way he did it today carrying 63.5kg,” said Stubbs.

“We just travelled … went up the rail … I just had to point and steer and he did the rest,” added jockey Jason Lyon.

“He’s a freak. He had 12kg dead weight, but, like I said, I just had to point and steer. It was easy.

“He’s a little beauty.”