Rock On
Race Images Palmerston North
Promising stayer Rock On got a well deserved reward for some consistent form of late when he scored handsomely on his home track on the weekend.
The Awapuni galloper endured plenty of bad luck in the first three runs of his spring campaign but put that all behind him with a powerful display in the hands of senior rider Jonathan Riddell. Although fractionally slow away at the 1600 metre start of the rating 65 contest, Riddell soon had his charge handily placed in midfield as pacemaker Centre Attention slowed the tempo to a crawl through the first part of the contest.
Riddell bided his time before angling Rock On into the clear for his finishing burst with 300 metres to run. The four-year-old Road To Rock gelding sprinted impressively to reel in the leaders and clear out from his rivals over the concluding stages.
Trainer Gary Vile has always held a high opinion of his charge and considered him a Derby candidate during his three-year-old campaign. Immaturity put paid to those plans however Vile is convinced this time in he is ready to show all his best qualities.
"He is a serious horse but just has to learn a few more manners," he said.
"Once he comes to it I think he could be a decent type of Cup horse. We freshened him up after he raced all three days at the Hastings carnival and he's got the job done today.
"It was a great ride by Jonathan and hopefully he can stick with him."
The win by Rock On completed a double for both his sire Road To Rock and part-owner Bill Gleeson who stands the stallion at his Wellfield Lodge base. Both Rock On and Art Deco, who won the previous race, carried Gleeson's colours and were co-bred by him. – NZ Racing Desk
The Awapuni galloper endured plenty of bad luck in the first three runs of his spring campaign but put that all behind him with a powerful display in the hands of senior rider Jonathan Riddell. Although fractionally slow away at the 1600 metre start of the rating 65 contest, Riddell soon had his charge handily placed in midfield as pacemaker Centre Attention slowed the tempo to a crawl through the first part of the contest.
Riddell bided his time before angling Rock On into the clear for his finishing burst with 300 metres to run. The four-year-old Road To Rock gelding sprinted impressively to reel in the leaders and clear out from his rivals over the concluding stages.
Trainer Gary Vile has always held a high opinion of his charge and considered him a Derby candidate during his three-year-old campaign. Immaturity put paid to those plans however Vile is convinced this time in he is ready to show all his best qualities.
"He is a serious horse but just has to learn a few more manners," he said.
"Once he comes to it I think he could be a decent type of Cup horse. We freshened him up after he raced all three days at the Hastings carnival and he's got the job done today.
"It was a great ride by Jonathan and hopefully he can stick with him."
The win by Rock On completed a double for both his sire Road To Rock and part-owner Bill Gleeson who stands the stallion at his Wellfield Lodge base. Both Rock On and Art Deco, who won the previous race, carried Gleeson's colours and were co-bred by him. – NZ Racing Desk
