Paradise Rocks It - 3rd Win in 48 Hours

Bold galloper Paradise Rock (4 g Fastnet Rock - Apple Charlotte, by Royal Applause) proved far too good for his opponents in the Atkinson & Donaldson Plumbers Maiden 1560 metres on November 4 at Rotorua.

Having recorded two notable performances for sixth and fifth in good fields at Te Rapa, and Ruakaka, respectively, Paradise Rock broke through at his third start for the Te Akau Paradise Rock Syndicate.

Away well to lead for rider Cameron Lammas, who remains in a purple patch of form, Paradise Rock dictated terms under a hold. He looked the winner as far out as the 800m, gapped his rivals around the home turn and required minimal urging to score by three-and-a-half-lengths.

“We said before the race that he had to go forward, and he (Lammas) thought he could get an easy lead,” said Stephen Autridge, who co-trains the horse with Jamie Richards.

“I said, ‘if you get an easy lead it's going to suit us, because you'll be able to sneak when you wanted to, but if you get caught in behind and they slow you up, you're no hope, because he's just a one-pacer'.

“But, he's a pretty genuine horse and his hearts in the right place,” Autridge said.

Out of a mare that won three times from 1400m to 2000m in the UK, Paradise Rock has been patiently handled.

“This is a horse that has needed some time,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis.

“He had some soundness issues, but we're very luck at Te Akau that our owners are happy to give us time. They've been very patient and it looks like their patience is going to be rewarded.

“I bought him at the Ready to Run Sale two years ago and the team at Matamata have done a sensational job getting the best out of a slow maturing horse.

“I'm thrilled for the owners and can see that they are going to have a lot more fun with him in the coming months,” Ellis said.

Lammas had fashioned a good association with Paradise Rock, at the trials and on race day.

“We all have our time in the sun and I'm making the most it,” said Lammas, after notching his fifth win in three days.

“I was going to lead, anyway, as he's quite a strong mouthed horse and if anyone wanted to take me on, he would have run them into the ground. He's a big horse and he keeps trying.

“He's going to improve a lot more and more ground is going to suit him.

Paradise Rock was strapped by Diego Steele.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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