Brilliant Return for Riff Rocket

Mark Smith - Saturday February 17

It has been thirty years since a Victoria Derby winner returned to win the Group III CS Hayes Stakes (1400m)at Flemington, but Riff Rocket achieved the feat like a horse with further Group 1 wins in sight.

Class act (image Grant Courtney)

Class act (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Craig Williams for Chris Waller, the 3-year-old son of American Pharoah (USA) came with a barnstorming finish to defeat the Group 1 winning Kingman colt King Colorado by three-quarters of a length with the Justify gelding Verdad the same distance back in third.

Stable representative Charlie Duckworth said Riff Rocket will likely not stretch out to the Derby distance this preparation.

“I know he won a Derby, but we genuinely believe he didn’t stay out the distance that well, Duckworth said.

Advertisement

“We haven’t changed anything drastically. We’ve just gone through the normal processes we would with any horse, and he’s come back mentally matured and is a lot sharper.

“I was told he is the first horse in 30 years to win a Derby and come back and win this race. Full credit to the horse; he’s a real trier.

“Whatever he’s been doing in his trials, all the right form judges were on him, and I think we’ll enjoy the win.

Further Group 1 goals for the son of American Pharoah (image Grant Courtney)

Further Group 1 goals for the son of American Pharoah (image Grant Courtney)

“It was a lot less stressful than the Derby.”

“The plan was to stay here for the Australian Guineas in a fortnight, and we thought that realistically that is where we thought he’d be prime (over) a mile and beyond, but to show how sharp he was today is fantastic, so I’d image the plan won’t change too much, but hopefully he can get a picket fence together.”

Craig Williams said the winner was brilliant.

“It has been a lucky race for me, and today I was lucky to have Chris Waller and Riff Rocket,” he said.

“He was dominant here and has kept his Flemington record intact.

“To me, he is still raw. He still seems to wobble and float around even though he loves Flemington. I’m not too sure about the history of it, but he’s coming along.

“The way he has started his preparation, we were as kind as possible to him, and to see him get the win, I’m sure that Chris had him nice and ready today with the big weight that it wouldn’t hurt him too much.”

Riff Racket advances his record to five wins and two seconds from eight starts with earnings of $1,511,675.

The start of a big half hour for Debbie Kepitis (image Grant Courtney)

The start of a big half hour for Debbie Kepitis (image Grant Courtney)

A homebred for Debbie Kepitis’s Woppitt Bloodstock, Riff Rocket was foaled and raised at Coolmore and is the only winner from two to race for the Smart Missile mare Missile Coda, the winner of five of her 13 starts and runner-up to Savannah Amour in the Listed Hinkler Stakes at Doomben.

A $400,000 Magic Millions yearling, Missile Coda is out of the talented Lonhro mare Rain Melody, a three-quarter sister to I Believe (dam of multiple Group II winner and Group 1-placed Rain Affair and Listed winner Ranges), and a half-sister to Listed winner Walk Alone.

Missile Coda has a 2-year-old Nicconi filly named Codetta in the Michael Freedman stable. She was covered by Home Affairs last spring.

Advertisment

Race Result - C S Hayes Stakes Gr3 1400m

Flemington Track: Good(3) Time: 1:22.32
1
Riff Rocket
- 3g American Pharoah (USA) x Missile Coda (AUS) (Smart Missile (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 59.5
2
0.8
King Colorado
- 3c Kingman (GB) x More Aspen (USA) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: M Zahra 59.5
3
1.5
Verdad
- 3g Justify (USA) x Whistle Baby (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Jye McNeil 56
4
1.6
Otago
- 3g Ocean Park (NZ) x Steel Stilettos (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: B Melham 57
5
2.6
Hey Fat Cat
- 3g Rubick (AUS) x Keep De Rose (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: R E Laing Rdr: C Newitt 56
6
2.7
Cap Ferrat
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x C'est Beau La Vie (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: M J Dee 56
7
4.2
Et Tu Brute
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Caesar's Princess (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damian Lane 56
8
5.2
Amigo
- 3g Snitzel (AUS) x You're So Good (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: P G Moody & Katherine Coleman Rdr: W Egan 56
9
5.4
Run Harry Run
- 3g Written Tycoon (AUS) x Maybe Markle (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: O P Bosson 58.5
10
5.9
Tannhauser
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x Luqyaa (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Shinn 57
11
7.9
Amur
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Leopard (AUS) (Animal Kingdom (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 58.5
12
9.4
Flying Valley
- 3g Dark Valley (AUS) x I Need To Fly (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: Julius Sandhu Rdr: J Mott 56
13
13.9
Ambassadorial
- 3g Fiorente (IRE) x Showcase (AUS) (Big Brown (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jordan Childs 57
More Reading...
Riff Rocket’s to Victory in Group 1 Rosehill Guineas
Riff Rocket put a stamp on the champion 3-year-old stayer title when leaving his opponents without an excuse in Saturday’s Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m).
Go Racing Back to Karaka
This time last year New Zealand syndicator Go Racing celebrated one of their biggest moments when Velocious carried their silks to victory in the TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and this year, they will be out to add the 3YO crown to their mantle.
One to Watch – Doomben
A Hellbent two year-old filly from a famous female family made a winning debut at Doomben on Wednesday as a short priced favourite.
TAB Karaka Millions 2YO Draw Delivers Varying Fortunes for Favourites
The stage is set for an action-packed 18th running of the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday after a barrier draw that delivered mixed results for leading contenders.
Vale Riff Rocket
The Chris Waller stable have announced the sad death of their champion Riff Rocket.
Expensive Too Darn Hot 3YO Now A winner - Half Brother at Easter
Too Darn Hot’s most expensive colt from 2023 is now a winner and on his way to larger targets after Shanwah broke his maiden at Morning on Wednesday.
Lucky Vega 2YO Draws Well Karaka Million
It was luck by name and luck by nature for Ben and Ryan Foote at the barrier draw for Saturday’s $1 million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Stakes Goals Next for Snitzel 2YO Winner
The TAB Racing Club could be in for an exciting couple of months with their juvenile filly In Haste, with the daughter of Snitzel set to tackle some stakes assignments following her dominant win at Matamata on Wednesday.
A Second Derby for Riff Rocket
A ride for the scrapbook by James McDonald resulted in Riff Rocket winning Saturday’s $2,000,000 Group 1 ATC Australian Derby (2400) at Randwick and joining an exclusive club to win the classics in Sydney and Melbourne.
Tricky Draw for TAB Karaka Millions 3YO Favourite
Last year’s $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) runner-up Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) will jump from an awkward position in gate 12 in her quest to go one better in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.