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...
Aussie Mare Youngstar Produces Exciting Japanese G3 Winner
Australian Group I winning half-sisters Youngstar and Funstar are both at stud in Japan and the former has a very smart two year-old colt in Eri King, who made it three wins from three starts when taking out the Group III Radio Nikkei Hai Kyoto Nissai Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
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.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Everything is Car Pie
Tineke Balcombe’s $2,600 gavelhouse,com New Zealand purchase Car Pie proved too good for her rivals at Hokitika yesterday to break her maiden with a dominant display.
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.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.