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Talented but unsound sprinter Rock My Soul is in line for a crack at the best short course performers in the country.
The six-year-old has overcome serious injuries to win four of his 11 starts and returned from a lengthy lay-off at Otaki last time out to finish second over 1200m in Rating 75 company.
“We were delighted with him,” part-owner and trainer Emily Holmes said. “It was a little bit of a surprise given he’d had nearly two years off.
“He hadn’t had a trial and he was carrying 60kg - he’s a very good horse though and came through the race well.
“He’s a day to day proposition, but we would like to get him to the Telegraph. He needs to win his next start so I’m looking next at a Rating 85 race over 1200m at Te Rapa and a drop in weight will help him.”
Rock My Soul was sidelined by injury before the son of Stratum’s career was under-way.
“He did a tendon in his very first trial and then he did a tendon again last year, it was the same leg but the tendon on the other side,” Holmes said. “It certainly hasn’t been all plain sailing for him.
“He was owned in Hong Kong and the plan was for him to go up there after a trial or two here, but after he did the tendon the owners leased him to me.”
Holmes campaigned Rock My Soul in Victoria two years ago with four starts resulting in a win at Kyneton and three minor placings.
She combines her training operation with managing the Bulls property of successful breeders and owners Christopher and Susanna Grace.
“I’ve only got a small team, we’re getting yearlings ready so we’re pretty busy,” Holmes said.
“The numbers here can vary from 30 to up to 60 when all the mares and foals come home.” – NZ Racing Desk.