News - EL ROCA (AUS)

Lightly raced filly Rocababy upset the applecart at Wanganui on Saturday when she came with a determined late finish to take out one of the feature events on the day, the Listed The O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes (1200m).

Trainer Peter Ho was not surprised when Dashing Triumph defied market expectations to win the Tung Wan Shan Plate (1000m) for Griffins at Sha Tin on Sunday under Dylan Mo despite the El Roca gelding starting at 27-1 on the basis of a modest trial last month.

Progressive three-year-old Wewillrock will head to the spelling paddock after a clear-cut victory at Te Rapa on Saturday which has trainer Guy Lowry keen to see just how far he can go in his next campaign.

New Zealand raiders recouped plenty of travelling costs at the Sunshine Coast meeting on the polytrack on Wednesday, with trainers Robbie Patterson and Kelvin Tyler both sending out winners. 

Francis Lui is hoping high-class sprinter Lucky Patch can consign a nightmare outing in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint to a distant memory when the son of El Roca returns to action at Sha Tin on Sunday evening.

Matamata-trained Mali Ston will make his Australian debut on Saturday, with the son of El Roca to step out in the Silverdale Farm Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.

Feisty five-year-old Irish Girl showed all her fighting qualities as she bravely held out the challenges of Beneficial and Seriously to win the Listed Avon City Ford Easter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton.

Trainer Ken Rae admits it’s not often a plan comes together perfectly, but that was the case on Saturday when Irish Girl proved too tough for her rivals in the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.

Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will be represented by a trio of Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) contenders at Ellerslie this weekend with White Noise given the nod as their top seed.

Promising three-year-old White Noise had a class edge on his rivals when landing Sunday’s Listed Te Akau Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie, confirming his status as a genuine Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) contender at the same venue in March.

The potency of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman's contingent for this year's Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie will become clearer after racing at the same track on Sunday.

Lightweight runner Mali Ston produced a performance that had to be seen to be believed when he weaved through traffic to take out the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie becoming the fifth stakes-winner for Westbiry Stud's El Roca.

An eclectic group of friends entrusted Guy Lowry with the task of finding them a racehorse at Karaka 2020, and now the resulting purchase is coming into his own.

Buyers have been circling around emerging three-year-old Wewillrock and interest is sure to intensify if he continues the strong start he has made to his career at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Westbury Stud’s El Roca has had a memorable week with Lucky Patch winning the Group II Bochk Private Bank. Jc Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday and then promising three year-old White Noise took out the Group III Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki in New Zealand on Thursday.

Westbury Stud’s El Roca has a serious sprinter in Hong Kong in the shape of Lucky Patch, who captured the Group II Bochk Private Bank. Jc Sprint (1200m) over Aussie bred speedsters Naboo Attack (Warhead) and Sky Field ( Deep Field).

Westbury Stud’s El Roca sired a new stakes-winner on Sunday when his talented Hong Kong based sprinter Lucky Patch captured the Group II Premier Bowl (1200m) over Aussie bred speedsters Super Wealthy (Epaulette) and Stronger (Not a Single Doubt).

Flashy chestnut filly Gwen Stephani showed she had taken plenty from an unplaced debut run at Whanganui last month when she rocketed home to claim victory at just her second start at Matamata on Saturday.

Leading New Zealand nursery, Westbury Stud, is hardly a stranger to success in the Australian spring with wonder mare, Bonneval, winning the Underwood Stakes and Dato Tan Chin Nam, while Miami Bound followed up her VRC Oaks and Wakeful Stakes victories with another blinder in last year’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

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.