Rockfast the Rising Rockstar

Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker took his winning tally for the season to 69 when Rockfast scored a narrow but tough win in the S$60,000 Class 4 1600m at Kranji on Friday.

A smart son of Fastnet Rock out of the Sadlers Wells' mare Gypsy Princess, Rockfast was sent to race in Singapore after a very good New Zealand career.  He was consistently placed behind some of the country's top horses in Group races and we knew that he would prove very competitive in Singapore.

True to this thought, Rockfast debuted at Kranji for a handy fifth in September. There was no question that a win wouldn't be far away as he brought very strong credentials to our Singapore stable from his time with Te Akau's New Zealand operation.

Looking back at his Kiwi time, Rockfast was runner up as a two year old in the Listed Matamata Slipper.  He trained on to make his presence felt in a very strong class of three year olds the next season - finishing a gallant second behind the highly regarded Turn Me Loose in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas in November 2014.

That was followed by a gutsy second to a New Zealand 3YO star Volkstok'n'barrell (who lines up in Saturday's Caulfield Cup) in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas on New Year's Day this year - finishing less than half a length behind the winner.  Jockey James McDonald aboard made the point that had the colt run straight he would have won.

A second placing again came to his nemesis 'Volkstok' in the Listed Karaka 3YO Mile on Karaka Million night underlined the ability that Rockfast possesses. Before heading to Singapore he raced 11 times in New Zealand for one win, five second and three third placings for stakes of $134,675.

After his debut fifth in Singapore, he flashed home from well back (and a wide draw) to finish third over 1400m on 16 October.  We always knew that once he stepped up in distance he would be very tough to roll - and so it proved on Friday night.

Te Akau's champion apprentice Shafiq Rusof took a patient approach from a wide draw and settled midfield in seventh position, bided his time and scored with a beautifully timed run.  "Suppy" (as we call Shafiq) has now won 47 races this season - and is a whopping 25 wins ahead of Harry Kasim on the Apprentice Premiership table.

Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker was delighted to welcome this talented 4YO gelding Rockfast to our Singapore stable and has high hopes for him. Last night's win will certainly not be his last!

Purchased by David Ellis from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale for $410,000, Rockfast now has combined New Zealand/Singapore prizemoney earnings of $173,690.

Rockfast pictured winning in New Zealand