Camino Rocoso
Trish Dunell
Experience has taught Hugh Bowman to take serious notice of Murray Baker's judgement.
The leading Sydney jockey had enjoyed past successes with the astute Cambridge trainer, a Group One win in the VRC Derby aboard the ill-fated Lion Tamer among them, and they were to the fore again at Ellerslie on Sunday.
Bowman combined with Camino Rocoso, a progressive son of Shocking that Baker trains with Andrew Forsman, for an impressive win in the Henley Park 1600.
"He's a pretty smart horse and I've had a bit to do with Murray and Andrew and when Murray said he really liked the horse I took that as the tip," Bowman said.
He wasn't disappointed and after settling close to the pace, Camino Rocoso wasn't hard-pressed to coast clear in the straight.
"We thought the mile may have been a bit sharp for him and he's a real Derby horse in the making," said Baker's training partner Andrew Forsman.
"With this race under his belt and against his own age group, he'll definitely get 2400 metres.
"He'll probably go to the Avondale Guineas – backing up to the Waikato Guineas may be too tough.
"He's pretty straight-forward and you can see he's got the class when he gallops."
TAB bookmakers reacted sharply to the gelding's performance and slashed his Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand odds to $7. He is now the second favourite behind the $5 market leader Sacred Elixir. – NZ Racing Desk.
The leading Sydney jockey had enjoyed past successes with the astute Cambridge trainer, a Group One win in the VRC Derby aboard the ill-fated Lion Tamer among them, and they were to the fore again at Ellerslie on Sunday.
Bowman combined with Camino Rocoso, a progressive son of Shocking that Baker trains with Andrew Forsman, for an impressive win in the Henley Park 1600.
"He's a pretty smart horse and I've had a bit to do with Murray and Andrew and when Murray said he really liked the horse I took that as the tip," Bowman said.
He wasn't disappointed and after settling close to the pace, Camino Rocoso wasn't hard-pressed to coast clear in the straight.
"We thought the mile may have been a bit sharp for him and he's a real Derby horse in the making," said Baker's training partner Andrew Forsman.
"With this race under his belt and against his own age group, he'll definitely get 2400 metres.
"He'll probably go to the Avondale Guineas – backing up to the Waikato Guineas may be too tough.
"He's pretty straight-forward and you can see he's got the class when he gallops."
TAB bookmakers reacted sharply to the gelding's performance and slashed his Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand odds to $7. He is now the second favourite behind the $5 market leader Sacred Elixir. – NZ Racing Desk.