After opening the programme with a stakes-winning two-year-old last week with the Capitalist filly Tycoon Humma, John McArdle kick-started Super Saturday at Flemington with the unbeaten two-year-old La Rocque in the Group III TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m).
Given a positive ride by Jamie Mott, the daughter of Kuroshio took control of the race at the 250m and was untroubled to defeat the Not A Single Doubt filly Flying Evelyn by one and a half lengths with the Deep Field filly Her Empire a further three lengths back in third.
Sent off the favourite after a winning debut at Pakenham, La Rocque, like Tycoon Humma, comes from a family McArdle knows well.
“Obviously, I was under a massive amount of pressure today with La Rocque being owned by Mrs McArdle and bred by Mrs McArdle. I’m under strict instructions,” McArdle joked.
“She did a bit wrong. She rolled around a bit. She’s a better horse ridden behind, but she just jumped the machine so quick.
“She just doesn’t know what she’s doing yet. She’s a very green horse, makes a lot of mistakes. She got a little bit hot out the back, and we were a bit worried about that.
“She’ll likely go to the paddock and be a bit like Tycoon Humma and come back for those early spring races.“
La Rocque is the best of three winners from as many foals out of the Bianconi (USA) mare Bianslick
From the family of the 4-time Group winning millionaire Cliff’s Edge, Bianslick has a yearling filly by Magnus, who Matthew Brown Racing purchased for $65,000 out of the Musk Creek draft at the recent Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Bianslick has missed and slipped in her last two seasons.
La Rocque becomes the third stakes-winner for the former Darley stallion Kuroshio.
The son of Exceed and Excel is a brother to Believe'n'succeed, who produced the ill-fated Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck. He now stands at Starfield Stud in Ireland at a fee of €6,000.
