Rock 'n' Gold Captures John Dillon Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday January 26

After being caught four and five wide early, Damian Lane elected to circle the field and take up the running on Rock 'n' Gold in Saturday's Listed John Dillon Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and the 8-year-old gelding proceeded to make every post a winner.

Keeping up a relentless gallop, Rock 'n' Gold defeated the favourite Manolo Blahniq (Jimmy Choux) by two lengths with Chamois Road (Choisir) a short-head back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)

It has been just over 12 months since the Son Of Rock Of Gibraltar earned his only other stakes win in the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington.


He advances his record to 9 wins, 10 seconds and 9 thirds from 53 starts with earnings of $596,200.

"I think Damian went to plan B, it wasn't our plan to lead but good jockeys sum it up well and Damian did so," co-trainer Matthew Ellerton said.

"He's a durable horse who loves his racing and enjoys his time in work.

"He'll go back up in the ratings. He had 55.5kg today so we'll have to think about (where he goes next). We usually leave him in work until the tracks turn sour then he usually has his winter break and comes back racing later in the year. He might be tough to place from here."

A half-brother to Listed stakes-winner Antidotes (Golden Snake), Rock 'n' Gold first went through the ring at the 2012 Inglis Premier Yearling sale where he made just $12,000. He was then on-sold later in the year for $55,000 at the NZB Ready To Run Sale.

He is the eighth foal of ten foals and fifth winner out of the winning Geiger Counter mare Goldberg, a daughter of the Group 1 VRC Oaks heroine Tay Eclipse, and a half-sister to the dam of Group III winner and VRC Oaks runner-up Dane Belltar (Danewin), the dam of triple Group 1 winner Fawkner and Group II Adelaide Cup winner Tamby.

Goldberg was pensioned in 2015. Her final foal is an unraced 4yo Written Tycoon named Mister Mogul who has won his last two starts.

Rock 'n' Gold is one of 130 stakes-winners for Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) who shuttled to Coolmore Stud for eight seasons, the last in 2010.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
Arkansaw Kid Brother Sells for $520,000
A well-related son of Harry Angel provided a late highlight in the final hour of the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on Thursday when he was knocked down to a $520,000 bid from bloodstock agent Morgan Carter.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.