Rockdale blows them away
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Rockdale and Mark Zahra race home to pick up the Group 1 win
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With commanding leads, race favourites took out the first three races on the card at Eagle Farm on Monday, June 9. Following on $1.40 race favourite Fravashi was headed for his fourth straight win but the dream run came to an end in race four the time-honoured Group 1 Racetree T.J. Smith 1600m. The winner was Rockdale (NZ) picking up his first win in Black Type style.
Beginning nicely from the outside barrier Rockdale (G2 Danroad-Komplete Kaos NZ) got to the front establishing a strong lead. Coming to the straight they put in the challenges but no one could catch the leader. He had a great run all the way and outlasted them all.
Baci Amore (Brad Pengelly) followed three quarters of a length behind in second. It was hard running for the favourite Fravashi (Corey Brown) who managed third a length and a half behind.
Victorian jockey Mark Zahra scored the ride in Queensland and it was well worth it.
“They’re hard to get (Group 1’s) so you’ve got to make the most of them,” said Zahra of his fourth Group 1 win and he was impressed with the gelding’s achievement.
“He’s got a lot of raw ability. I gave him a dig and then he showed a bit of speed and I just sort of let him bowl along at his own tempo. He relaxed really nice and kicked. It was a good victory.”
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Gold Coast trainer John Morrisey (Noel Pascoe photos)
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The favourite didn’t have Zahra worried. “I thought I’d just run my own race, I thought it’d be him coming to me in the straight which it wasn’t. Small fields are always like this. I think Mr Morrisey has a nice horse,” he said.
“He’s got so much more improvement, he’s won a Group 1 and he still doesn’t know anything. I think onwards and upwards is the way to go for him.”
Rockdale was the only runner in the field without a win under his belt from his three prior starts. He achieved second last start in the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes behind Fravashi 10 days earlier, raced unplaced in the Champagne Classic and first up scored a second in the QTIS 2YO Handicap in late April.
Gold Coast trainer John Morrisey was pleased to see the win. “He’s been a difficult horse to get going and he was always going to improve a lot today,” he said.
“He’s always given us a good feeling. I knew he’d improve a lot.”
Rockdale will now go out to spell after earning connections $385,000 and Morrisey would like to see him repeat his Winter Carnival success.
“He’s been in work a fair while this horse. He’s a nice horse so we won’t be in a hurry to do anything. We’d love to have him here this time next year. Back right around Christmas and bring him back for the Winter Carnival.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – June 10
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