With just twenty-five live foals from three seasons at stud, the unheralded Fastnet Rock stallion Rocker may have quietly slipped away without a trace had it not been for Soxagon earning a career highlight win in Saturday’s Listed Lough Neagh Stakes at Doomben.
Ridden by Glen Boss for trainer Mark Currie, Soxagon defeated Emerald Kingdom (Bryannbo's Gift) by a half-neck with Outback Barbie (Spirit Of Boom) one and a quarter lengths back in third.
Bred by and part-owned by Brian Burke, Soxagon advanced his record to seven wins, five seconds and one third from 21 starts with earnings of $366,375.
Burke purchased Soxagon’s dam Strike On Goal for $600 out of the Patinack Farm draft at the 2013 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
The Brisbane winning daughter of Van Nistelrooy went to Rocker in his first two seasons at stud in 2013 and 2014.
The first resulted in the winning filly Danniwillbreezonby and the second Soxagon.
A half-sister to Group II placed Dark Bishop (Pentire), Strike on Goal is out of a half-sister to the Group III VRC St Leger winner Desert Clearance.
Strike on Goal has not been covered since foaling Soxagon, and was dropped from the official record in 2018.
The winner of five races in Brisbane and twice Group III placed when trained by Kelly Schweida, Rocker is out of a half-sister to stakes-winner I Got Chills.
He stood his last season in 2015 leaving eight foals.
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