Connections of lightly raced four-year-old Rocker have eyes set on a Brisbane winter carnival campaign after victory in the Coastal Tipper Hire Hcp (1200m) at the Gold Coast today.
Trainer Kelly Schweida has reproduced the cotton wool and will spell Rocker who won its fourth race from just six starts.
Despite an interrupted campaign, the son of Fastnet Rock and Pochette (by Encosta de Lago) was good enough to take care of the NMW class field but only narrowly.
Jockey Glen Colless went searching for cover from the start and settled in the middle of a 14 horse field.
Western Shadow and Extra Exceleration slapped on a good speed up front providing both Headhunter and The Ringmaster good cover on their tails.
Colless moved on the $1.90 favourite up at the 500m mark.
Rocker impressively moved into the race under a hold in the straight.
He and The Ringmaster strode to the front together at the 200m.
What looked like being an easy win for Rocker when he poked a neck in front, turned to a battle with The Ringmaster fighting back.
Rocker defeated The Ringmaster by a head with Nothing Like Luca three quarters of a length away third.
The best run in the race came from the Con Karakatsanis-trained Nothing Like Luca.
He settled third last, moved around the field and gained a conservative three lengths on the quinella horses in the final 300m.
Colless has recommended to Schweida to add blinkers when Rocker has its next start.
“I thought he was going to win by four lengths,” Colless said.
“He’s got plenty of ability but he’s a bit of a boy.
“There’s no doubt he’s up to much better races.”
Schweida took a cautious line.
“He needs to lift a bit but he’s going in the right direction,” Schweida said.
“I’ll think about the blinkers.
“He’s a four-year-old stallion and he’s an absolute guts.
“I’ve got him on a diet all the time.”
Rocker is owned by long time Schweida clients Courier Mail and Sunday Mail racing editor Bart Sinclair, former leading racecaller Wayne Wilson and Chairman of the Brisbane Racing Club Kevin Dixon among others.
Dixon bred Rocker at Racetree stud.
Track Condition: Good 3 Time: 1:09.55 Last 600m: 0:34.74 INTERIM RESULTS
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | ROCKER | Kelly Schweida | Glen Colless | 5 | 56kg | $1.90F | |
| 2 | 5 | THE RINGMASTER | Tony Sears | Paul Hammersley | 0.1L | 12 | 56.5kg | $6 |
| 3 | 19e | NOTHING LIKE LUCA | Con Karakatsanis | Ric McMahon | 0.9L | 10 | 54kg | $7 |
| 4 | 3 | GUNNER KNOX | Lawrie Mayfield-Smith | Brad Stewart | 1.1L | 13 | 57kg | $21 |
| 5 | 10 | THE CRANBERRIES | Dwayne Schmidt | Ben Looker (a2) | 2.1L | 7 | 54kg (cd 52kg) | $26 |
| 6 | 14 | SLUGSBROTHERNUGGET | Mark Palmer | Daniel Griffin | 3.1L | 4 | 54kg | $26 |
| 7 | 13 | FELON | Brian Crowley | Matthew Palmer | 4.1L | 9 | 54kg | $31 |
| 8 | 1 | HEADHUNTER | Darren Bell | Mitchell Wood (a3) | 4.9L | 14 | 59kg (cd 56kg) | $16 |
| 9 | 2 | MY ELIXA | Trevor Bailey | Scott Galloway | 5.2L | 3 | 57.5kg | $8 |
| 10 | 17e | LONESOME DAY | Paul Nolan (Jnr) | Timothy Bell (a0) | 6.2L | 11 | 54kg | $101 |
| 11 | 11 | EXTRA EXCELERATION | Graeme Want | Anthony Allen (a3) | 6.6L | 1 | 54kg (cd 51kg) | $31 |
| 12 | 18e | DUKE WILLIAM | Robert Cole | Micheal Hellyer | 7.1L | 2 | 54kg | $101 |
| 13 | 9 | WESTERN SHADOW | Mark Palmer | Jason Taylor | 7.6L | 6 | 54.5kg | $12 |
| 14 | 15 | ARMA | John Shelton | Jay Ford | 10.6L | 8 | 54kg | $41 |
| 21e | DOMINI | Pat Duff | scr | 0 | ||||
| 4 | STREETSON | Alicia Willick | scr | 0 | ||||
| 20e | FALLS CREEK | Gillian Heinrich | scr | 0 | ||||
| 8 | CATCH THE LIGHT | Bryan Guy | scr | 0 | ||||
| 12 | EXPLORE THE WORLD | Kerry Walker | scr | 0 | ||||
| 6 | I’LL RULE | Matt Kropp | scr | 0 | ||||
| 16 | BRIGADOON STAR | Colin Harbrow | scr | 0 |
