New Zealand-bred mare Esta La Roca is in a purple patch of form and trainer Lloyd Kennewell is hoping that will continue on Saturday when she contests the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
The daughter of Westbury Stud's El Roca won first-up over 1000m at Sandown in June before placing in her next three starts, including the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville and Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley last start.
She has continued to please her trainer who thinks she is in with a good shot of securing her maiden stakes win this weekend.
“She is going as good as she was the other day when she just got run down. I think it is a perfect race for her,” Kennewell told SENTrack.
“A Group Two with a mare like her can increase her value quite substantially if she can run top three, which I think she is more than capable. I think she is right on song.
“A lot of the main dangers are first-up from a spell and she is hard-fit, ready to go, and I couldn’t be happier with her.”
Esta La Roca has missed a place only twice in 11 starts and with four wins and two stakes-placings is overdue for a Black Type success.
A fast stakes-winning son of Fastnet Rock, El Roca has already tasted Group I success as the sire of Travelling Light and stands at Westbury Stud at a fee of $8,000 plus GST. _NZ Racing Desk
