Stakes Next for Impressive El Roca Filly

Media Release - Tuesday January 3

On a day where the Te Akau Racing tangerine and blue colours played a prominent role in most results it was promising filly Romancing The Moon that provided one of the highlights.

Romancing The Moon bounces back to winning form at Matamata Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The Mark Walker-trained three-year-old was having her first start since finishing fourth behind the unbeaten Legarto in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

Punters were convinced that quality would prevail in the rating 65 1200m contest, sending the daughter of El Roca out a $1.90 favourite in the hands of Opie Bosson.

The champion hoop hardly had to move a muscle as the filly landed right on the speed after beginning well and then dashed away in the run home to defeat stablemates Image Of You and Hayate.

“She has a lot quality about her and she has freshened up nicely since she came home from Riccarton,” Walker said.

“I actually think she is better with some cut in the track but the facilities and tracks here at Matamata are presented to such a high quality that it definitely helps them out even when it is a little firmer.

“The beauty of the race today is that she is already at home having her dinner without all the travel that can take it out of them, so I would expect she will bounce through the effort well.

“It also helps when David (Ellis) is out there buying this type of horse as it makes my job so much easier.

“I have always said that the races are won and lost at the sale ring door and we’re lucky to have David, Karyn and all the staff here who operate with such a passion and dedication in what they do.”

Advertisement

While Romancing The Moon holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on March 18, it is a more immediate target at the venue that is on Walker’s radar.

“She will likely go to the Wellington Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) next,” he said.

“She does hold a nomination for the Levin Classic but I think she would need a wet track to have her best opportunity in the race.

“You never know with the weather though and she is just so honest and gives her all each time, which means she is always in with a shout.”

The win was the fourth for Walker on the ten-race card and he added another when Belle Of The Ball roared home from well back to capture the Coastwood Homes Lockwood Thames Cup (1600m) in the hands of Bosson, who picked up a winning treble on the day. Walker’s five-timer brought his seasonal tally to 95.

Romancing The Moon is a daughter of well performed El Hermano mare Underthemoonlight who won six races including the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) while also being placed in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m).

She was purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $50,000 out of the Westbury Stud Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2021.

Kilgravin Lodge will offer a half brother by Ardrossan as Lot 1065 during the Book 2 sale at Karaka later this month. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Flair (Bm65) 1200m

Matamata Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.28
1
Romancing The Moon
- 4f El Roca (AUS) x Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano (NZ))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: O P Bosson 58.5
2
2.8
Image Of You
- 6m Pins (AUS) x Exactly Like You (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: M J Mc Nab 58.5
3
4.6
Hayate
- 5m Maurice (JPN) x Vamoose (JPN) (Admire Moon (JPN))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: J Kamaruddin 57
4
4.8
Roca Fundeeda
- 5m Road To Rock (AUS) x Te Toro Lass (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: D Miller & M Stevens Rdr: C R Barnes 57
5
5.6
Polly Plum
- 5m Xtravagant (NZ) x Herstory (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: Jake Bayliss 57.5
6
5.8
Paradigm Shift
- 9g Showcasing (GB) x Bow Lane (NZ) (Russian Hero (NZ))
Tnr: S T Wenn Rdr: C E Lammas 59
7
6.0
Symphony Of Love
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Centreofattraction (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms J K Mahoney Rdr: M Hashizume 55.5
8
6.8
Alby Park
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Lady Alberton (NZ) (Golan (IRE))
Tnr: G T Hennessy Rdr: T D Thornton 58.5
9
8.1
Shez Shamus
- 4f Shamus Award (AUS) x Waterberg (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: P W Lock Rdr: V A Colgan 56
10
9.2
Dancing Sands
- 5m Contributer (IRE) x Tonic (NZ) (Blues Traveller (IRE))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun McKay Rdr: K Asano 54.5
11
10.2
Elounda
- 5m Contributer (IRE) x Nomisma (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: C J Grylls 57.5
More Reading...
No Fluke – How Good is Autumn Boy?
When Autumn Boy made a winning debut at 50-1 at Canterbury last month beating his high profile stablemate Central Coast, some may have wondered if there was an element of fluke about the win… there wasn’t.
Better Than Ready’s Metalart Wins Group 3 W J Healy Stakes
Improving off a third in the Listed Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm recently, 4yo Better Than Ready gelding Metalart stepped up to 1200m to record his first black type success, winning the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
G1 Winner for El Roca - Romancing the Moon wins Levin Classic
The decision to move the Gr.1 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Levin Classic (1600m) to March has worked wonders for Te Akau Racing, who dominated the race for the second year in a row at Trentham on Saturday – headed by an off-the-canvas victory by Romancing The Moon.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
First Black Type Win for El Roca Filly Romancing the Moon
A confidence-boosting first stakes victory in Saturday’s Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui has laid the platform for proven black-type performer Romancing The Moon to embark on a Group One mission later this month.