A conspicuous last early, the four-year-old Pierro mare Rocha Clock came with a barnstorming finish down the centre of the track to open her stakes account in the $200,000 Group III Coolmore Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at Scone on Friday.
Under a stone-cold ride by Rachel King, the John O’Shea-trained mare defeated the 4yo Smart Missile mare Missile Mantra by a long neck with the 5yo Pierro mare Reelem In Ruby a half-length back in third.
“We were a bit concerned in the first 200m, but down the side she got on to the back of a couple,” O’Shea said.
“It was a super ride by Rachel and a good team effort to get her going.
“We have a nice race picked out for her in three weeks time and that will do her for this prep.
“She is in a rich vein of form, a really happy mare racing well.”
It was Rachel King’s third win from as many rides on Rocha Clock.
“She was very relaxed back in the field and it was perfect for her to come wide with s bit of galloping room,” King said.
“I knew from the 600m she was going to be in with a big shout.”
Rocha Clock was recorded as a $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft, but when that sale fell through the plan was to send her to New Zealand for the Ready to Run Sale for which she was entered.
At that point, John O’Shea approached Coolmore to purchase her privately given he and Jason Abrahams had been greatly impressed with her at Inglis Easter and the rest is history.
Rocha Clock advances her record to seven wins, two seconds and a third from 16 starts with earnings of $546,765.
The daughter of Pierro has earned a good chunk of her prizemoney from Inglis sales-related races, highlighted by a win in the $250,000 Inglis Bracelet at Flemington and a second in the $200,000 Inglis Guineas at Rosehill.
Rocha Clock is the best of five winners from six to race out of the Group II VRC Wakeful Stakes winner Rocha.
A daughter of Encosta De Lago, Locha is a sister to Blackfriars, Manton, Lion’s Gate and Waterford Road.
A $400,000 Easter Yearling, Rocha was purchased by James Bester for $320,000 at the National Broodmare Sale.
Rocha has an unraced 2yo filly by Vancouver named Blackcomb and a yearling filly by Caravaggio (USA).
After missing in 2019, Rocha was covered by Magna Grecia (IRE) last spring.
Rocha Clock becomes the 25th stakes-winner for Pierro, who will stand at Coolmore Stud in the forthcoming season at Coolmore Stud for $110,000.
