He's Rocking It

Having cleared maidens by five and a quarter lengths, Rocksun (3 g Fastnet Rock - Beyond the Sunset, by Gone West) followed a minor placing with another good win in the Steelfab Rating 65 1400 metres at New Plymouth.

Presented with Slow7 when winning at Otaki, he coped with a Slow8 to settle into a rhythm outside the leader and maintained a solid gallop once let stride in centre track at the 400m.

It was good effort under 59kg, showed professionalism, and after completing the 1400 metres in 1:28.2 he returned favourite backers $2.60.

Owned by the 2014 Te Akau Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: David Ellis), Rocksun was recording his second win from limited starts and continues to develop in a manner that should see that number increased.

“Good to see him win again and he has shown an appreciation for a little bit of cut in the track,” said Richards.

“Matt (Cameron) was positive, put him right in the race, and the horse has shown plenty of ability. We had a couple of problems with his temperament as a colt, but as a gelding he has really switched on and can hopefully continue through the grades."

A half-brother to Matamata Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 2, 1200m) winner Te Akau Coup and stakes' winner of four races Don Garcia (Danehill), both purchased by Ellis and trained by Mark Walker, Rocksun also fitted the bill at yearling inspections time before being purchased from the Pencarrow Stud draft at Karaka.

“I think it's fantastic, while Steve (Autridge) is away on holiday in Europe, that Jamie has the team racing so well and he was confident that he had Rocksun in the right shape to win,” said Ellis.

“It was another great ride by Matt. He puts them in the race, gives them every opportunity, and although the horse didn't really handle the testing track conditions he had the fitness on his side."

Rocksun provided trainers Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards with their 96^th win for the season to keep them seven clear of the nearest rival.

Even more significantly, Rocksun brought up co-trainer Jamie Richards' 100th training success - all achieved with Te Akau in just 14 months!

“I must be the proudest team leader in New Zealand, because it's been a fantastic season by the whole team” said Ellis. “Everyone from the grassroots up have all worked really hard to achieve the wonderful results that we've had and we still have a lot of horses still to run before the end of the season.

“Our target throughout has been one-hundred wins and it looks like we're going to get there,” said Ellis.

Rocksun was strapped by Steve O'Neill.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz