First G1 Winner for Redwood

Media Release - Saturday December 5

Quality galloper Rock On Wood shed the tag of a Group One winner in waiting in emphatic fashion when he dashed home to take out the Group I Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham bringing a big update for his Karaka bound full sister.

Ryan Elliot is overjoyed as he salutes aboard Rock On Wood after winning the G1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes. Photo Credit: Race Images Grant Matthew

The Leanne Elliot-trained six-year-old had promised plenty at the highest level without being able to convert that into a Group One victory having finished third and fourth, twice, in four prior attempts.

The patiently-handled son of Redwood has made good improvement in his last two campaigns and finally struck the racing luck he needed to make it count on Saturday in the hands of Elliot’s son Ryan.

It was an emotional Leanne Elliot, who shares in the ownership with her mother Jill Ker and sister Yvonne, as she fought back tears while waiting for her son to bring the six-year-old gelding back to the winner’s enclosure after the race.

“It’s just blimmin awesome,” she said.

“I was worried about the (Slow7) track but he went so good.

“He did it tough as he was out three-wide and I was thinking ‘oh no,’ but he was just awesome.

“It’s Ryan’s first Group One as well so that just makes it even better.”

21-year-old Ryan Elliot never panicked when he found himself caught wide during the early running, allowing Rock On Wood to find his feet before asking him to move into contention with 800m to run.

Asked for an effort once balanced in the straight, Rock On Wood sprinted quickly to hit the front before fending off the challenge of race favourite Concert Hall, who tracked him into the straight, by just on a length with pacemaker Deerfield clinging gamely to third.

The laconic hoop took the aftermath in his stride as he paid tribute to Rock On Wood and his mother.

Advertisement

“He’s put in a big effort and done it well,” he said.

“He jumped well and when they pushed up inside him, I thought I’d just stay where I was as there wasn’t any point in going back with him.

“I got a bit of a windbreak from Jonathan Riddell’s horse (Times Ticking) on the corner which helped me out and then he sprinted really well in that ground.

“He was floating around a little bit but that is what he does on a slow track as he needs better ground.

“It is so special to win this for mum as my first winner was on one of hers so for mum to get such a good horse and for me to win a Group One on it is just awesome.”

Rock On Wood is out of the Catcher In The Rye mare Rock On Rye and has now won eight of his 17 starts after being purchased for $26,000 from the Long Acres Stud draft by Ker at the 2016 Festival Yearling Sale at Karaka.

The Redwood gelding was bred by the syndicate that originally raced Rock On Rye out of Peter Rudkin’s Christchurch stable, which included the late great Kiwi rugby league player John O’Sullivan.

A full sister to Rock On Wood will be presented in Book 1 at the forthcoming New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales at Karaka through the draft of Cambria Park as Lot 75.

Redwood is another sire son of High Chaparral to leave a G1 winner.

Rock on Wood is the first Group I winner for High Chaparral stallion Redwood (GB), who stands at Westbury Stud. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Gr1 1600m

Trentham Track: Slow(7) Time: 1:39.66
1
Rock On Wood
- 6g Redwood (GB) x Rock On Rye (AUS) (Catcher In The Rye (IRE))
Tnr: Ms L Elliot Rdr: R T Elliot 59
2
1.0
Concert Hall
- 6m Savabeel (AUS) x Classic Legacy (NZ) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: V A Colgan 57
3
2.0
Deerfield
- 7g Falkirk (NZ) x The Dazzler (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: C A Bambry Rdr: S O'Malley 59
4
2.1
Hypnos
- 5g Reliable Man (GB) x Quality Dream (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: D S Johnson 59
5
4.6
Mauna Kea
- 7g Per Incanto (USA) x City Class Rose (NZ) (City On A Hill (USA))
Tnr: P R Moseley Rdr: S L Wynne 59
6
5.4
Flying Sardine
- 8m Flying Spur (AUS) x Julez (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: K & A Tyler Rdr: L T Hemi 57
7
5.5
Beefeater
- 8g Alamosa (NZ) x Karaka (NZ) (Kings Island (IRE))
Tnr: R J Bergerson Rdr: R H Schofer 59
8
6.0
Aimee's Jewel
- 4m Proisir (AUS) x Aimee's Idol (NZ) (Colombia (NZ))
Tnr: Ms T Keegan Rdr: L J Allpress 57
9
6.2
Times Ticking
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Laoghaire (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: A R Macgregor Rdr: J K Riddell 59
10
7.2
Shadows Cast
- 8g Per Incanto (USA) x Ages Past (NZ) (Slavic (USA))
Tnr: M K Oulaghan Rdr: J Parkes 59
11
10.0
Awesome Al
- 7m Alamosa (NZ) x Awesome (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: B R Lammas Rdr: R J Bishop 57
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 24
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blueblood Filly a Third Winner for Tagaloa
Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa is one of the more affordable sires on the Yulong roster and he sired his third winner at Bendigo on Thursday when well bred filly Teine Aulelia made a winning debut.
Sires With Winners - Thursday June 26
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Coles Bows Out After 60 Years
Pukekohe’s Wednesday meeting marked the end of an era for Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, as Ross Coles, a treasured figure in the industry, retired after 60 years as Clerk of the Course.
Flying Artie 2YO Wins by Four!
Blue Gum Farm have an appealing roster of three sires for this spring and while it’s all in front of Sejardan and Oxley Road, proven favourite Flying Artie remains unbeatable value and the G1 sire produced a four length 2YO winner on Thursday.
Profondo Weanlings Impress
The first progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Profondo made a favourable impression during the NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka on Thursday.
Do Early Winners Equate to Long Term Stud Success?
As we move towards the end of the racing season, attention invariably focuses on first season sires and who will be the leader of the cohort by winners and it’s a close run race this year, but does any of it matter in the grand scheme of things?
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$190,000 Per Incanto Colt Heads Vibrant Weanling Sale
The  2025 National Weanling Sale saw its first dual-code weanling session in play at Karaka, with a total aggregate of $2,410,000 outlaid across 84 lots by a strong domestic buying bench plus international support from Australia, Hong Kong and China.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.