Rob and Heather Grant's mighty little filly Searchin' Roc's is doing much to revive the fortunes of Fastnet Rock's Group 1 winning son Awesome Rock.
Trained by David Harrison, Searchin' Roc's turned the tables on her Burgess Queen Stakes conqueror Buzzoom in Saturday’s $200,000 Group III Euroz Hartleys-Champion Fillies Stakes at Ascot.
Ridden by Kyra Yuill, Searchin' Roc's looked to be in some trouble when Buzzoom made a short, shape sprint. But her run ended and as she flattened out, Searchin' Roc's kept up a relentless gallop to defeat Buzzoom (Safegurad) by a length with Champagne Dame (War Chant) a short neck back in third.
It was the fifth win in seven starts for Searchin' Roc's taking her earnings to $508,200.
“I said to Kyra don’t go too early because she is a better chaser,” Harrison said.
“When Buzzoom got us so fast last start, she did not have the chance to kick back, so she is a lot better chaser
“I wanted to see if she would get the 1800m and head towards the Kingston Town.
Harrison said they would bypass next weeks Guineas and head straight to the Group 1 Kingson Town Stakes.
“She is too light a frame to go for the Guineas, so she will definitely go to the Kingston Town.
“When she sits back and has the last shot at them, she is a super horse. She is a work in progress, but she has a great kick. When she hits the front, she has a bit of a bludge.
“It was a beautiful ride and a top win. Onwards and upwards.”
Searchin' Roc's is the only runner from two foals out of the Trade Fair mare Still Searchin' whose own career on the track consisted of one start when eighth of ten in an 1100m maiden at Northam.
Still Searchin' is a daughter of the useful Verglas mare Search Me who descends from one of the more obscure branches of the peerless Denise’s Joy.
Still Searchin' has not had a live foal since Searchin' Roc's and was not served last year.
Searchin' Roc's comes from the first crop of the Group 1 VRC Emirates Stakes winner Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock), who stands at Breera stud for $5,000.
