Run for the first time at Flemington on Oaks Day, the $250,000 VRC Inglis Bracelet (1600m) drew a competitive field of mares with victory going to talented four year-old Pierro mare Rocha Clock, who made it a race to race double for her trainer John O’Shea.
O’Shea also won the previous race, the VRC Off the Track Subzero Handicap (Benchmark 90) for all greys, with European import Berdibek (Fr), who carried the same colours of Sydney owner breeder Jason Abrahams as does Rocha Clock.
Sixth at her last start in the Group III ATC Angst Stakes at Randwick, Rocha Clock was favourite for the Inglis Bracelet and fit and ready to fire at her third run back from a spell.
She finished with a rush for Hugh Bowman, and despite being a little green to the line was able to hold off a strong challenge from Camelot mare Re Edit to win by a short neck.
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“It was a good run as she was a bit lost at Flemington,” said Hugh Bowman.
“She didn’t show quite the turn of foot that she can, although I put that down to her running here for the first time, but she still won with a bit of authority.”
Stakes-placed in the Inglis Scone Guineas last season, Rocha Clock has been handled patiently by John O’Shea and has the overall record of five wins and two seconds from 11 starts with prizemoney in excess of $353,000. Connections no doubt keen to secure further Black Type with her in the future.
Rocha Clock was recorded as a $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the Coolmore draft, but when that sale fell through the plan was to send her to New Zealand for the Ready to Run Sale for which she was entered.
At that point, John O’Shea approached Coolmore to purchase her privately given he and Jason Abrahams had been greatly impressed with her at Inglis Easter and the rest is history.
Foaled and raised at Coolmore, she is the best of five winners from five foals to race from Group II winning Encosta de Lago mare Rocha, a daughter of Group I South Australian Oaks winner Larrocha.
This is the family of Group I Victoria Derby winner Blackfriars and this year’s Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Quick Thinker.
Coolmore sold the current two year-old from Rocha, a filly by Vancouver, for $150,000 at Inglis Easter to O’Brien Thoroughbreds and she has a yearling filly by Caravaggio (USA) to follow.
Rocha missed last spring so had no foal this year, but has been covered by Coolmore young gun Magna Grecia (IRE), a Group I winning son of Invincible Spirit.
