Promising Flemington Winner for El Roca

Media Release - Saturday June 21

Progressive three-year-old Stop The Rock continued his climb through the grades when the Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained gelding ran out a solid winner of the Ken Cox Handicap (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The hard-fought victory came under a typically patient Billy Egan ride as the son of El Roca advanced his career record to three wins from four starts.

Stop?The?Rock?surges clear under Billy?Egan to capture the Ken?Cox Handicap at Flemington. Photo:?Bruno?Cannatelli

A last start winner at Swan Hill, Stop The Rock came from midfield to narrowly defeat the favourite Shockletz and bring up an early double for the Payne stable after Buccleuch claimed the opening race.

“He’s just a lovely horse,” Michelle Payne said.

“He's a real sleeper, actually. All of his trials before he raced were pretty moderate and Patrick put the blinkers on for his first start and he won at good odds at Warrnambool.

“He just seems to step up to the mark on race day. He's just a lovely, progressive horse with a great group of owners in him.

Advertisement

“They're all out here today including Brendan Danaher and all the crew. It was a lovely ride by Billy too.”

Stop The Rock is likely to be seen back at Flemington for the A$200,000 Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m) at Flemington in a fortnight.

By Westbury Stud stallion El Roca, Stop The Rock is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Shezablonde and stems from the family of Nothin’ Leica Dance.

Stop The Rock is a graduate of the hugely successful New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, purchased for $75,000 by Patrick Payne from the draft of Westbury Stud. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Ken Cox Hcp 2000m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 2:03.50
1
Stop The Rock
- 3g El Roca (AUS) x Shezablonde (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: Patrick & Michelle Payne Rdr: W Egan 57
NZB Ready To Run Sale $10,000
Seller: Westbury Stud
Buyer: Mr H Chen
2
0.3
Shockletz
- 3f Shocking (AUS) x Zelt (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: H Coffey 58
3
0.6
Verona Rupes
- 3g Cliff's Edge (AUS) x Katty Khan (AUS) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: Patrick & Michelle Payne Rdr: J Noonan 57
4
0.7
Vellasmachine
- 3g Lean Mean Machine (AUS) x Timeless Style (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: P Koumis Rdr: Alana Kelly 55.5
5
1.4
Bearings
- 3f Tarzino (NZ) x Mapmaker (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: D Yendall 53.5
6
1.8
Frontline Action
- 3g Highland Reel (IRE) x Blevic's Belle (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick & Michelle Payne Rdr: Tom Prebble 53
7
1.9
Stylish Secret
- 3g Sweet Orange (USA) x Scarlet's Secret (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: Mick Nolan Rdr: Luke Cartwright 55
8
3.4
Nearco Frod
- 3c Hunter's Light (IRE) x Tequila Frod (ITY) (Dr Devious (IRE))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: John Allen 58.5
9
4.1
Prochester
- 3g Proisir (AUS) x Vanilla Chinchilla (NZ) (Reliable Man (GB))
Tnr: Andrew Forsman Rdr: Liam Riordan 56.5
10
4.5
Thinking Gold
- 3g So You Think (NZ) x Belongs In Lights (AUS) (Belong To Me (USA))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: Zac Spain 54.5
11
4.7
Hot Majesty
- 3g Too Darn Hot (GB) x Majesty (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
12
5.9
Shadeelaa
- 3g Shalaa (IRE) x Whatadeel (AUS) (Dundeel (NZ))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: E J Walsh 55
13
8.2
All Torque
- 3g Grunt (NZ) x Reglisse (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: J D Sadler Rdr: Hannah Edgley 52
14
9.4
Winston
- 3g Churchill (IRE) x Sonoma (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: Jett Stanley 54.5
More Reading...
Sterling Express Wins G2 Foxbridge Plate
Sterling Express stepped up to Group level for the first time in Saturday’s Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa, and a stunning last-to-first performance showed that he belongs.
Aussie Mare Asfoora Triumphs in G1 York Nunthorpe
Victorians breeders celebrated overnight with Aussie bred and owned Flying Artie mare Asfoora returning to her dazzling best to win the Group I Nunthorpe Stakes (5f) at York  with a scintillating performance.
First Black Type Victory For Nellie Leylax (IRE)
Not a bad way to break through for your first Australian victory as the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Nellie Leylax (IRE) cleared out by more than two lengths to claim the Group 3 ATC Premier’s Cup (2000m) at Randwick.
Promising Winner for Yes Yes Yes
Relocated to Gooree Stud this spring, Everest hero Yes Yes Yes has kept doing what he does best in racking up winners with the Ciaron Maher trained four year-old Flamboyant Lad opening his account at Geelong on Friday.
One to Watch – Geelong
Rosemont Stud’s Hanseatic had a promising debut winner at Sandown on Wednesday in Humble Trader and he kept up the good work at Geelong on Friday when his stakes-placed filly Rohesia cast off maiden status in style.
New Star for Hellbent – Savvy Hallie Wins G2 Silver Shadow
Yarraman Park’s Hellbent has made his name with brilliant Group I winning mares Magic Time and Benedetta with exciting filly Savvy Hallie adding her name his list of stakes-winners with a stylish victory in the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Exclusive opportunity to purchase nomination in Too Darn Hot
Exciting racing and breeding prospects – plus a nomination in Champion First and Second Season Sire Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) – headline a diverse catalogue of 302 lots for the Inglis Digital August (Late) Online Sale.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G2 Silver Shadow Stakes - Darley Princess Series
We've emerged from the worst of winter, but Sydney's wettest spring in a couple of decades is going to ensure a squelchy track for Saturday's Royal Randwick meeting if it even goes ahead.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 22
Here is the full list of 25 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$400,000 Karaka Ready to Run Purchase May Be Next Star for Castelvecchio
The maiden three-year-old race on Foxbridge Plate Day at Te Rapa is developing a reputation for unveiling bright talent, and a superb debut by Quantum Legend on Saturday suggested he could be heading for the top of that list.