El Roca Mare Ready for G2 Sprint

Media Release - Friday September 3

New Zealand-bred mare Esta La Roca is in a purple patch of form and trainer Lloyd Kennewell is hoping that will continue on Saturday when she contests the Gr.2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

The daughter of Westbury Stud's El Roca won first-up over 1000m at Sandown in June before placing in her next three starts, including the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville and Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley last start.

She has continued to please her trainer who thinks she is in with a good shot of securing her maiden stakes win this weekend.

“She is going as good as she was the other day when she just got run down. I think it is a perfect race for her,” Kennewell told SENTrack.

“A Group Two with a mare like her can increase her value quite substantially if she can run top three, which I think she is more than capable. I think she is right on song.

Advertisement

“A lot of the main dangers are first-up from a spell and she is hard-fit, ready to go, and I couldn’t be happier with her.”

Esta La Roca has missed a place only twice in 11 starts and with four wins and two stakes-placings is overdue for a Black Type success.

El Roca stands at Westbury Stud.

A fast stakes-winning son of Fastnet Rock, El Roca has already tasted Group I success as the sire of Travelling Light and stands at Westbury Stud at a fee of $8,000 plus GST.   _NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Blue Gum Farm Welcome First Foal of the Season
Victorian nursery Blue Gum Farm announced on Monday the arrival of their first foal of the season and there is no mistaking the sire of this gorgeous filly.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
Aussie Globetrotting Mare Now Calls Woodside Home
Woodside Park have released a list of their quality mares set to visit new recruit Celestial Legend this spring and one of them is Aussie bred Group II winner Nafaayes, who produced a promising 2YO winner overnight in the UK.
G2 Winning Mare chasing G1 Success
Classy mare Val Di Zoldo will have the opportunity to test her talents at the highest level this term after resuming with a tidy trial at Taupo on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday August 5
Here is the full list of 24 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Zoustar 7YO on Comeback Trail
Joliestar is not the only good Zoustar carrying the colours of Cambridge Stud as Lance Noble has his eye on a major early season prize with one of the few older members of his stable.
First foal Arrives for Mo’Unga
The Kelly family of Newhaven Park have taken an educated gamble on champion New Zealand sire Savabeel and have already struck paydirt with exciting young sire Cool Aza Beel siring Group I winning 2YO Cool Archie and now it’s time for Mo’Unga to make his mark.
Road to the Caulfield Cup Starts Here
An exciting field is beginning to take shape for Caulfield’s biggest day, with nominations now closed for the 149th edition of the $5 million Sportsbet Caulfield Cup. The countdown is officially on for 146 hopefuls and their connections chasing Cup glory.