The enigmatic Voodoo Lad returned to his best form to record an impressive victory in the 2016 Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Voodoo Lad never looked comfortable when he was beaten down the Flemington straight in both the Listed All Victoria Sprint Series Final (1200m) on July 9 and the Bruce Gadsen Handicap (1200m) on July 23, but he was a different horse around a bend and he ran away from his rivals in the final stages of the race to record a strong win.
Jockey Chris Parnham admitted after the race that Voodoo Lad did over race in the early stages of the Regal Roller Stakes, but he was thrilled to have made it two wins from two rides on the five-year-old.
“I am two from two now and he seems to go well for me,” Parnham said.
“I had a lovely run into the race today and he got a bit keen for a couple of strides early, but once we passed the 1000 he settled beautiful and to his credit he was too good.
“Down the straight he seems to be in a bit of a habit of wanting to get it over and done with.
“After a furlong he wants to get going, but today I was lucky that the speed was pretty genuine and he was in a good mood today.”
Trainer Darren Weir said after the race that he was confident Voodoo Lad would run a big race in the Regal Roller Stakes if he settled in the early stages and he was thrilled that ended up being the case.
The leading trainer said that he had no plans to send Voodoo Lad to the spelling paddock and he is hopeful that he can find another nice race at Listed or Group level for the son of I Am Invincible.
“I was a little bit concerned after they had gone about 400 because he got into a good spot, but he was still overracing.
“He tucked his head down and got into a beautiful rhythm before he stretched out good late.
“He had a trial on Monday and we dropped him out the back and just let him rip the last 300 and he worked like that.
“If he was going to settle he was going to run well, but settling was the problem.”
Fast ‘N’ Rocking was well-supported in the lead-up to the Regal Roller Stakes and he found the line strongly late once again, but he never looked like a winning chance.