Orphan Eddie Shines

Improving on a solid fifth last Sunday at Gisborne, Rock Idol(4 g Rock ‘N' Pop - Edesia, by O'Reilly) took over like a $2.00 shot turning for home in the $10,000 Maiden 1400 metres on 21 February at Wairoa.

On the bridle throughout, Rock Idol effortlessly put three lengths on his rivals inside the 400m and extended the margin under rider Craig Grylls to win easing down by three and a half lengths.

Paying $8.80 & $2.80 in the race sponsored by K9 Petfoods, Rock Idol ran the 1400 metres in 1:24.5 on Good3 footing. 

“It was a good tough win,” said Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards. “To be fair, he's always shown a bit of speed. He's a very big horse and Craig (Grylls) rode to instructions and gave him a lovely ride. He pressed on from the 600m, which you need to do with him because he takes a while to wind up. But now he's got a win and some confidence he might be able to go on with the job. 

“The team at home has done a great job with him and he's owned by some very loyal Te Akau owners that were involved with Rock ‘n' Pop and bred mares to him. And to get this win as a four-year-old is testament to the patience they've shown.”

Following a win earlier in the day by Griffin (Iffraaj), Richards was back level pegging at the head of the premiership with 69 wins this season, while leading the field in prize money.  

A big strong horse from the first crop of Waikato Stud stallion Rock ‘n' Pop (Fastnet Rock), who won the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) for the Te Akau Rock ‘n' Pop Syndicate, he was bred and raced by David Ellis & Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM rom the O'Reilly mare Edesia together with Selwyn & Judy Maynard, Glenn & Cathie Holmes, Barry & Shona Old, Stephen Turner, Chris & Raewyn Ireson and David & Andrea Rayner.

“I seldom get such a thrill out of winning a Maiden race as I did with this horse,” Ellis said. “He was an orphan foal, and we hand-reared him here at Te Akau Stud, and I congratulate my fellow owners who have been extremely patient with him.

“He's a lovely horse and it's great to see that all the effort and time put into him, firstly, hand-rearing when his mother died at birth and he'd been 17 hands and just needed time. 

“Jamie (Richards) and the staff have nursed him along, teaching him what it's all about while just waiting for him to mature into his frame. So, I was thrilled to see him win. 

“The owners and I were all shareholders together in Rock ‘n' Pop and we used our service as shareholders to breed to him. 

“Rock ‘n' Pop was bought by Waikato Stud, had winners in four countries already, and it was great to see him siring a very good winner when Surely Sacred won the Avondale Guineas last Saturday at Ellerslie. He's out of Sir Tristram mare and his progeny need time, but we're starting to see them step up now.

“It was another good winning ride by Craig Grylls, who rides track work for us and our policy is to put the jockeys on that ride the work and he's building some good momentum since coming back from Singapore.”

Ellis also made comment on how important it is for New Zealand racing to have the continuation of Racing Clubs like Gisborne and Wairoa, and the level of community support they receive.

“At Wairoa today, the first of their two-day meeting, they've got over $30,000 in local sponsorship,” he said. “There will be an even bigger crowd at the meeting on Sunday. Lots of children and hundreds of people that may not have an interest in racing if it wasn't for their local meetings, and for these people at NZTR that want to close racecourses in this country, well, they must be on a different planet.

“So many people in small places around New Zealand have been introduced to racing through attending their local racecourse, and without them it will take its toll. Our industry is lost without the support of racehorse owners and to get them introduced to racing there is no better way than having them attend race meetings from a young age. Something has to spark the interest. 

“And these Clubs are providing very good grass tracks, which without them we won't have enough grass tracks to race on.” 

Rock Idol was strapped by Chelsea Burdan. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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