Neena Rock To Run Well Fresh In Breeders Classic

Neena Rock is currently available at 2015 Breeders Classic odds of $8.50, but trainer John Sargent believes that the talented mare is ready to run well fresh in the Group 2 event at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.

Neena Rock will start her 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign in the Breeders Classic at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Neena Rock will start her 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign in the Breeders Classic at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart

Neena Rock failed to fire in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day in her final race start before heading to the spelling paddock, but stamped herself as a mare to follow with strong efforts in the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Golden Pendant (1400m) before she took out the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m).

The Fastnet Rock mare has not missed a placing in her three race starts since she made her racing debut in New Zealand at the end of 2012 and trainer John Sargent told Racing Ahead that he is very happy with the condition of Neena Rock heading into the Breeders Classic and is confident that the six-year-old will get a lovely run into the race when she jumps from barrier two tomorrow.

“I am happy,” Sargent said.

“She is a year older and probably a little bit bigger.

“She goes well fresh and she has a nice suck draw to get in behind the speed.

“I think that she will go very well, she always does and she is a class mare.

“She is 90 percent ready and she is aiming for the Coolmore, but she goes well fresh and I think she will put her right foot forward tomorrow.

“The good thing is that we have a good draw and she won’t need to get as far back as she did last season.

“She is definitely in with a chance, but she will have to have everything going for against Catkins and co.

“It is a good field.”

Sargent revealed last month that the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 11 was the major 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival goal for Neena Rock, but he confirmed today that the consistent mare will also be given an opportunity at the highest level of racing in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 14.

“She will probably have three (starts before the Coolmore Classic),” Sargent said.

“She peaks on her third and fourth run this time in and I am wrapped with the way that she has come up.”

Catkins has been backed into 2015 Breeders Classic odds of $1.90 and is a clear favourite with Ladbrokes to record back-to-back wins in the Group 2 event.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.