El Roca 4YO Wins Again

Media Release - Thursday July 25

Promising four-year-old Martell handled the step up to open grade with aplomb at Arawa Park on Thursday when beating home a handy field in the Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua 1230.

Martell winning at Arawa Park on Thursday.  Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

The son of El Roca jumped well to sit outside leader Caitlyns Wish before getting some cover when apprentice jockey Ace Lawson-Carroll elected to push forward to sit parked with Digger.

Turning for home, Martell was guided three-wide by apprentice Jessica Allen and under his featherweight of 52kg he was able to quickly draw level with leader Caitlyns Wish, with the pair going-head-to-head down the straight before Martell was able to get the better of his rival in the concluding stages, winning by a neck.

Advertisement

It was Martell’s sixth win from 15 starts and trainer Jim Collett was pleased with the way he handled the step up to open grade.

“He was well placed with the allowance, and he was well ridden,” Collett said. “He is a horse on the up, he has only had limited starts and he tries hard and likes that sort of ground (Heavy10).

“He has matured this time in. As a three-year-old he was a bit weak, he is stronger now, he has got confidence, and he is running well.”

While tempted to now tackle stakes company with his charge, Collett said he will opt to take a more cautious approach for the remainder of his preparation.

“He is not ready for anything major just yet. You could get carried away and put him in a Foxbridge Plate (Gr.2, 1200m), but it is a level too far for him at the moment,” Collett said.

“I may go back to Te Rapa with him for an Open sprint over 1200m before giving him another run at Hawke’s Bay. As soon as the tracks firm up, I will give him a nice, long spell and hopefully he comes back stronger again.”

Looking ahead to the weekend, Collett will line-up just the one runner at Te Rapa on Saturday, with last start runner-up Tregor set to tackle the New World Taumarunui Mile (1600m).

“Tregor is in good form, he is in similar form to last start,” Collett said. “I am happy with him and given a bit of luck in the race he has got to go close.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Visit the profile page for El roca

El roca in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua Hcp 1230m

Arawa Park Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:15.59
1
Martell
- 4g El Roca (AUS) x Myrcella (NZ) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: J C Collett Rdr: Jessica Allen 52
2
0.3
Caitlyns Wish
- 4m Belardo (IRE) x Sinalot (NZ) (St Petersburg (AUS))
Tnr: S R Autridge Rdr: M J Sanson 56.5
3
3.1
Thunder
- 8g Niagara (AUS) x Alberta (NZ) (Magic Albert (AUS))
Tnr: S R Autridge Rdr: W B Kennedy 55
4
3.3
Casino Princess
- 5m Casino Prince (AUS) x Sonsy (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: C E Goss Rdr: T C Moodley 58
5
6.6
Digger
- 5g Redwood (GB) x Riverina Girl (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: D B Hollinshead Rdr: A Lawson-Carroll 52
6
7.1
New York Jazz
- 8g Niagara (AUS) x Shesalljazz (NZ) (Coats Choice (AUS))
Tnr: S Ralph Rdr: J Nishizuka 50
More Reading...
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Promising Winner for El Roca
Lightly raced galloper Martell lived up to his trainer’s expectations when he downed a handy field of three-year-olds over 1100m at Te Rapa.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.