Trish Dunell Photography
Patrick Moloney showed his quality at Ellerslie aboard a willing partner in On The Rocks to boost long-term classic hopes for the well-related colt.
The Victorian jockey gave a polished display on Saturday aboard the Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained three-year-old with a front-running ride that landed them major honours in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m).
Moloney is Moroney’s stable jockey in Australia and jumped at the opportunity of a quick-fire trip to New Zealand to fill in for a suspended Jake Bayliss, another Victorian-based rider who has undertaken a six month riding stint based in Matamata.
“Mike gave me the call up and I was really impressed with the way this horse won,” said Moloney, who was also successful on stablemate Bocce at Otaki on Friday. “He’s got a lot of upside.”
By Alamosa out of a half-sister to the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, On The Rocks jumped to the front and set an easy clip before sprinting on the turn.
“It wasn’t the plan to lead the race, but after I gave the horse a squeeze out of the barrier he landed there and relaxed,” Moloney said.
“I got away with a couple of cheap sectionals and he held a good, strong gallop down the straight.”
On The Rocks’ performance saw his odds for his autumn target – the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) - tumble from $31 to $12.
“He’s a really nice colt, I’ve got a lot of time for him,” Gerard said. “The inside draw helped dramatically and it was a fantastic ride by Patrick.”
The filly Kapoor was on the pace all the way and she chased gamely in the closing 400m to take second ahead of the warm favourite Demonetization.
The previously unbeaten colt settled three back on the fence and was doing his best work in the closing stages. – NZ Racing Desk.