The Bishop Rocks Too

About 12 hours after Rockfast "rock and rolled" at Kranji, another Te Akau trained son of Fastnet Rock - Bishop Rock - was in the winner's circle for the New Zealand team - in the commentator's words "he creams them"!

Bishop Rock became Te Akau's third winner in 24 hours!

It appeared Bishop Rock (3 c Fastnet Rock - Festival Princess, by Barathea) was just out for a stroll, such was the dominance of his win in the Gluyas Motor Group Maiden 1600 metres on Saturday at Ashburton.

Holding his own when sixth on debut over 1200 metres at Riccarton, Bishop Rock had the addition of blinkers and a tongue tie when stepping up to a mile and proved a class above his rivals.

Keen to go quicker under jockey Matt Cameron, Bishop Rock jogged along in second passing the 800m and after quickening clear in the straight to lead by four lengths at the 200m he won easing down by two and a half lengths.

He clocked a respectable 1:35.5 for the 1600 metres and on the strength of his trial form was heavily backed into $2.60 & $1.30.

Rider Michael McNab had suggested he was a ‘good horse in the making' when finishing second in a trial at Te Teko, before going south, with the winner Capella (Rip Van Winkle) since producing an eye-catching fourth before going on for a smart win.

Owned by the Te Akau Bishop Rock Partnership (managed by David Ellis), the colt was purchased by Ellis for $250,000 from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.

“I thought he was impressive today - he looked a real racehorse in the making.  Any horse that uses a bit of petrol and wins like he did is a very good effort at only his second start,” said Ellis.

“It was an intelligent ride by Matt (Cameron) and a very good training performance by Steve (Autridge) and Jamie (Richards), and Pam (Gerard) and Gary Ritchie are doing an outstanding job with the horses down south."

At the time of purchase, Curraghmore Stud master Gordon Cunningham said: “He is out of a well-performed mare in Ireland and is certainly a nice colt”.

His dam, Festival Princess finished second in the Naas Blue Wind Stakes (Gr. 3, 2012 metres) and third in the Curragh Dance Design Stakes (Gr. 3, 1811 metres) and this colt harks from the family of German Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old Ransom O'War.

Purchased with the 2000 Guineas (Gr. 1600m) in mind, Ellis said: “All going well, he will have his next start in the 2000 Guineas on 7 November at Riccarton.

“He's the sort of horse we will look at taking to some nice races in Australia, after Christmas, and being by Fastnet Rock these horses just keep improving. He's got a beautiful pedigree and he's shown he can really gallop,” said Ellis.

Picture credit - www.raceimages.co.nz