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Smart three-year-old Rock On Wood took care of business at Te Aroha, but only just.
In a competitive age group event, the central districts visitor accounted for another bright prospect in Sherrif in the Sir Slick Winners Circle 1600m on Friday.
Rock On Wood has now won two of his five starts and two minor placings between times stamped him as a potential stakes winner.
The son of Redwood finished fourth behind Age Of Fire in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham and filled a similar placing behind the now Hong Kong-based Xbox in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa.
Levin trainer and part-owner Leanne Elliot said some thought had been given to a start in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) for Rock On Wood, but decided to err on the side of caution.
“It was a little bit far for him and I didn’t want to push him too much, although if he had won (at Te Rapa) we would have looked at it again,” she said.
Her priority now is the Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni on March 31.
Rock On Wood settled one off the fence toward the back of the field at Te Aroha and came between runners to hit the front 250m from home.
“He’s a nice horse and we just wanted him to settle today, it’s all about giving him more experience,” said Elliot, whose son Ryan was the successful rider.
The Roger James-trained Sherrif, a son of High Chaparral and the Group One performer J’Adane, was widest into the straight and he was doing his best work late to get within a head of the winner. – NZ Racing Desk.
Video replay: Rock On Wood winning the Sir Slick Winners Circle 1600m