Most expected Rock ‘N’ Gold to find his classy stablemates too strong but the seven-year-old charged late to nab his maiden stakes win in Saturday’s Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
Rock ‘N’ Gold was one of three runners from the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra stable along with Group One winners Flamberge and Amber Sky but started as the outside of the field despite behind specked from $21 to $17.
Rock ‘N’ Gold relished the fast speed set by Amber Sky and Lord of the Sky before running home well to get home by a half-head under Chris Symons' vigorous riding, rewarding his trainers for their patience with his win over Husson Eagle ($8) and the well-backed Adelaide visitor Itz Invincible ($7 - $4.20).
Zahra said the fact Rock ‘N’ Gold was related to former smart stayers Tanby and Fawkner, meaning the trainer thought the gelding would get over ground when he bought him in New Zealand.
“I actually bought him to stay. He’s related to the mother of Fawkner and Tanby but he just used to pull too hard,” Zahra said.
“Now he just needs lots of speed on. He gets back and runs on and it’s his first crack at the big time and he’s prevailed well.”
Zahra said the key to Rock ‘N’ Gold was keeping the son of Rock Of Gibraltar fresh and thanked fellow trainer Danny O’Brien for the use of his Barwon Heads property.
“He heads down there a fair bit and he always runs well fresh,” Zahra said.
“His jumpout on Monday (at Werribee) indicated that he was ready to run a cheeky race. We just thought the class of the other two might just get there.
“He has been a little bit frustrating but a fantastic horse to the stable but we’ll keep him fresh and find another race in the next three or four weeks.”
Rock 'n' Gold was purchased for $55,000 from Diamond Lodge's 2012 NZB Ready To Run draft. -racenet.com.au