Rock 'N' Gold claims a scalp at Cranbourne

Darryl Sherer - Sunday October 15

Rock 'N' Gold made up for two luckless runs this preparation with a strong win in Sunday's Apache Cat Classic (1000m) at Cranbourne.

Advertisement
Damian Lane won his fifth race on Rock 'N' Gold . Photo: Darryl Sherer

Damian Lane parked Rock 'N' Gold just behind the speed set by Danuki to the home turn where he was forced to wait for a stride or three before obtaining clear running.

Once into the open Rock 'N' Gold ($3 fav) let down powerfully to run down Danuki ($9.50) and score going away by three-quarters of a length. Gun Case ($3.50) stayed on for third a further long head away.

The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Rock 'N' Gold finished third in the rescheduled version of this race in March and had finished runner-up at both his starts this preparation with legitimate excuses.

Lane said the seven-year-old is racing in great heart but was concerned pre-race with how the track was favouring those on speed.

"This did look his race but it was going to be tricky the way the track was playing," Lane told Racing Victoria.

"I think that created a lot of speed in the race and we were able to get the camp off them.

"When he sprinted he sprinted well - I had a concern for a couple of strides getting out but I followed Gun Case and I knew he'd give a good kick."

Lane has ridden Rock 'N' Gold to success five times and said son of Rock Of Gibraltar is racing better than ever.

"It took a long time to figure him out, he looked like a horse that was going to get over further early," Lane said.

"He probably should of but because of his aggressive racing style we couldn't.

"Matty and Simon decided a couple of seasons ago they were going to keep him fresh and to sprinting and the horse just loves it.

"Each preparation he just seems to be coming back better."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.