The spoils go Rockdale’s way
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The winning pair of Damien Browne and Rockdale return to scale (Noel Pascoe photo)
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Rockdale (NZ) made it an all the way win to claim the Group 3 Mullins Lawyers Rough Habit 3YO Plate 2020m.
At Doomben on Saturday, May 23 he duplicated his 2008 T.J. Smith win by leading the whole way over a heavy track.
Last year Rockdale (G3 Danroad-Komplete Kaos NZ) secured the Group 1 T.J. Smith 2YO Classic 1600m in a go-to-whoa maiden win.
This was the third win for the three-year-old gelding who had unsuccessful spring and summer carnivals.
“He’s coming along nicely. It’s just things haven’t gone his way,” said Gold Coast trainer John Morrisey.
“He really was in work all year. He had two hard runs before he went down there (Melbourne) and the runs weren’t that bad. He got beat nine lengths in the Guineas but the third horse got beaten six lengths and it was alongside horses like Duporth and that.
“He won an Open Handicap here as a two-year-old beating Hard to Catch but they were too harder runs before going to Melbourne.”
Morrisey has always had faith in his charge and doesn’t believe he’s just a wet-tracker. He credits the latest success to comeback jockey Damian Browne.
“He’s got to be able to run a bit of ground to be a nice horse,” he said.
“He’s got a long way to go yet but it’s just good to see him win.
“I thought he’d go good. When he first came from New Zealand he had a lot of luck with Damian.
“He’s a very good horse with a very good rider. He’s (Damian) got a bit of confidence in me and I knew he’d do what I wanted him to do.
“I think I had the right bloke on him today.”
Rockdale has had his fair share of riders including Ron Goltz, Craig Newitt, Owen Turpin, Larry Cassidy and Jim Byrne.
Glen Colless and Mark Zahra have enjoyed wins with the gelding.
“He’s a leader,” said Morrisey. “That’s the only way to ride him.
“Jockeys having their first ride on him can get into mischief.
“He takes a little bit to get going and in those miles they went real hard then they give up and just grab hold of him,” explained Morrisey.
Browne was delighted to pick up the winning ride. “I’ve ridden a fair bit for John in the past and he was looking for a rider for this horse and thankfully he gave me the nod,” he said.
“I think when the rain came it really bought him into the race. He won the T.J. last year on the heavy track and his form’s not that bad.
“John said he always does his best races from the front. He was able to lead today and he came back to me down the back which really helped him and he quickened again at the 300m so it made it very easy.
“When he quickened for me I thought he was going to be hard to beat.
“We were confident if he led he wouldn’t be beat. He’s not good at getting his pace dictated.”
Browne’s return from injury has been continual climb but the Sunshine Coast hoop is confident his success will continue.
“It’s just a matter of getting back up there again,” said the Group winning jockey who also booted home a winner the following day at the Sunshine Coast.
“Onwards and upwards from here.”
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Hollie Roberts – May 25
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