Group 1 Glory for On The Rocks (NZ)

Breednet - Saturday February 9
$40,000 Select Sale graduate On The Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa) was already a dual Group 2 winner who had delivered priceless thrills for his owners, but he went to a new level in Saturday's $400,000 Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.

On The Rocks wins the richest WFA race in New Zealand. Photo: Trish Dunell.With an emphatic performance in New Zealand's richest weight-for-age race, the four-year-old entire took his prize-money earnings to $432,575 – more than 10 times his purchase price.

"He's a great little horse," co-trainer Pam Gerard said. "He's been underrated all the way along. He's only a little grey thing, but he has a huge heart. He's a stable pet and we all love him.

"He's still an entire, but we'd never really considered the prospect of a stallion career – maybe that could change now.

"He races for a crazy group of owners. We're all having so much fun, and hopefully he's not finished yet."

Ridden by Jake Bayliss, On The Rocks settled midfield before swinging out wide to make his run in the straight.

The grey stretched out impressively to win by a length and a quarter from the second-placed Tiptonic (NZ) (O'Reilly), who was a $100,000 purchase at the 2015 Premier Sale and has now earned $186,700 in stakes. On The Rocks and Tiptronic also finished first and second in last month's $100,000 Group 2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie.

On The Rocks has now had 12 starts for five wins and two placings for owners Ballymore Stables NZ Ltd, A Clark, N Gurney, A Mathieson, On The Rocks Syndicate, D P Sinn, Richard Sims, Jim Bebedellis, George Alas and John McNicholas.

His previous black-type wins came in the Rich Hill Mile, the $100,000 Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and the $50,000 Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m).

"This horse is as tough as nails and you couldn't hope for better owners to ride for," Bayliss said. It's really special to ride the first Group One winner for Pam, who's been like family to me. This is one of the highlights of my career.

"We're on a great ride with this horse. You think back to his maiden win at Tauranga, and look what he's done now."


Advertisment
More Reading...
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Now Triple G1 Oaks Winner for Coolmore
Already a winner of the Group I Epsom Oaks and Irish Oaks, expensive blueblood Frankel filly made it a treble of G1 Oaks races when landing the Group I Yorkshire Oaks (1m4f) overnight.
Owner Trainer Relishing Gavelhouse Graduate Success
Christchurch based owner-trainer Taylor Burnett is enjoying reigniting the race careers of his gavelhouse purchases, his most recent success being five-year-old Heart of Fame's stylish win yesterday at Greymouth.
First Foal for Woodside Park Stud’s Benbatl
On our tour of the Victorian studs last week we visited Woodside Park Stud and while new recruit Celestial Legend was the star attraction it was hard not be impressed by Dubawi’s globe-trotting son Benbatl (GB), who has his first Australian bred foal on the ground.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 21
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First foal for Cambridge Stud's Chaldean
The first Southern Hemisphere bred foal by Cambridge Stud stallion Chaldean (GB) has hit the ground with a filly foal out of the winning Burgundy mare Top Note born at Pencarrow Stud.
New Stakes-winner for Alamosa
Lightweight runner Windsor made it three wins from three starts in his latest campaign when he led all the way to take out the Listed Speights Timaru Stakes (1400m) at Riccarton.
Future Bright for Danica Guy
Group Three winner Lupo Solitario has returned to New Zealand, and the care of his former trainer Danica Guy, following a six-month racing stint in Hong Kong, while the stable are also excited about a first starter this weekend by Justify (USA).
Has John Sargent Got Another Oaks Winner in the Pipeline?
John Sargent is on target to send one Group One prospect across the Tasman from Australia, while he has received a filly from New Zealand for a possible Sydney Group One mission.
Second Stakes-winner for Palace Pier
Kingman’s champion son Palace Pier (GB) only shuttled for one season to Darley Australia with his first 2YO’s to race here this season and in Europe he’s doing a pretty good job with his second stakes-winner emerging overnight at York.
Karaka Bargain Wins Memorial Trophy
$10,000 Karaka weanling purchase Mr Crowe (NZ) (Alamosa) produced a strong performance to win Sunday’s RM65,000 Dr Lim Ah Soo Memorial Trophy (1400m) at Penang.