News - EL ROCA (AUS)
Westbury Stud has an enviable feature race roll of honour with graduates of the farm excelling to the highest level over a wide range of distances.
Emerging three-year-old Renegade Rebel stepped up from a last-start maiden win and scored a determined front-running victory in Sunday’s Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie.
A day after his connections took a leap of faith with a late nomination for the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m), emerging stayer Canheroc rewarded their confidence with a powerful lead-up performance in the Listed Marton Jockey Club Marton Cup (2200m) at Hastings on Saturday.
Promising New Zealand-bred filly Krementz collected the second win of her four-start career with a determined performance in the Australian Trainers’ Association Plate (1400m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day.
Josh Shaw tasted Group glory with Hinepara last year and he has got a craving for more.
Frank Ritchie had anything but a relaxed watch as Gwen’s Daughter descended down the Pukekohe straight on Saturday, but he was delighted when she prevailed in the Stella Artois Championship Qualifier (1500m).
Mali Ston will have several factors in his favour when he chases a comeback victory at Riccarton in the feature event on Wednesday’s card.
Talented Kiwi four-year-old Wewillrock collected his first Australian win with a smart performance in the A$150,000 Bowermans Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Coolmore’s champion Aussie bred sire Fastnet Rock might be turning 22 this year, but he posted his 43rd Group I winner in Ireland last weekend with quality mares Via Sistina and Stay Alert running one-two in the Pretty Polly Stakes so there is no better time to take a closer look at his legacy as a sire of sires.
Wewillrock will be given an opportunity to add to his stakes record when the four-year-old steps out at Randwick on Saturday.
Lightly raced galloper Martell lived up to his trainer’s expectations when he downed a handy field of three-year-olds over 1100m at Te Rapa.
Every breeder or buyer’s aim is usually focused on finding the next Group 1 winner.
Wewillrock, one of last season’s progressive three-year-olds, bounced back to winning form on his home track on Saturday when he took out a rating 75 1200m contest at Hastings.
Defending New Zealand Champion Jockey titleholder Michael McNab, who currently sits atop the National premiership ladder with 124 victories for the season, showed all his undoubted class when he dominated the three feature events at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Westbury Stud stallion El Roca is developing a great association with the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m).
The decision to move the Gr.1 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Levin Classic (1600m) to March has worked wonders for Te Akau Racing, who dominated the race for the second year in a row at Trentham on Saturday – headed by an off-the-canvas victory by Romancing The Moon.
A confidence-boosting first stakes victory in Saturday’s Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui has laid the platform for proven black-type performer Romancing The Moon to embark on a Group One mission later this month.
Hawera trainer Anna Clement will be scouring the summer three-year-old programs with renewed interest following the resuming victory of her talented filly Rocababy at Trentham.
On a day where the Te Akau Racing tangerine and blue colours played a prominent role in most results it was promising filly Romancing The Moon that provided one of the main highlights.
The Stephen Marsh-trained five-year-old has been rehabilitated from a serious tendon injury which he suffered after one start. He posted his fifth win from 14 career starts in a strong open handicap on Saturday.