Missrock Ready for Group One Glory

Tara Madgwick - Saturday August 26
Last seen finishing a brave second in the Group I SAJC Goodwood Handicap, talented Fastnet Rock mare Missrock resumed from a spell with a resounding win over speedy mare Heatherly in the Listed MVRC Norman Carlyon Stakes.

Well supported in betting, Missrock (images Darryl Sherer) settled third as Heatherly set the speed and was clear around the home turn, but when Ben Melham asked Missrock for her effort she finished too well for the favourite to win the 1000 metre scamper by a neck.



Her trainer Robbie Laing said Missrock would return to Moonee Valley on September 9 for the Group II MVRC McEwen Stakes over 1000m, but he was interested in trying to obtain a start in the $10 million The Everest at Randwick in October.

"Watching her today, with the edge off her, she might want 1200m now," Laing said.

"She's got Vega Magic form and she beat English home two starts ago and they're talking The Everest.

"If she won a nice Group race in the next few weeks she might get a spot and she does go well at Randwick."

Laing said Missrock returned from the spelling paddock 6-1/2 weeks ago but because of wet tracks in the Cranbourne area the only grass gallop she'd had was at Moonee Valley on Tuesday.

"Going through the field, the barometer was which one of these could run second in a Goodwood and I didn't think there were many of them," Laing said.

"I thought we'd be giving Heatherly a start, but this mare has a bit of guts about her."

Laing said he will keep the daughter of Fastnet Rock would be kept to sprinting after being tried over a staying trip as a spring three-year-old filly.

"Hopefully she can win a Group I," Laing said. "She's a very valuable mare as she is, but if we can build on that it would be terrific."

A $500,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Cressfield draft, Missrock runs for a big group of owners and has more that recouped costs banking over $970,000 in winning four of 15 starts.

Bred by Cressfield, Missrock is the best of four winners from Group III winning Strategic mare Miss Judgement, a sibling to Group I winner Mrs Onassis and Group winners Fifth Avenue Lady and Aussies Love Sport.

Fastnet Rock also featured with a very exciting winner earlier on the program with three year-old filly Roomooz resuming to score a stylish victory over quality Pierro filly Tulip in an open fillies event that had all the hallmarks of a Black Type race without the actual Black Type.



"The formlines will be strong - that was a cracking fillies race," said trainer Tony McEvoy after Roomooz led around the home turn under Luke Currie then held off the late charge from Tulip to score by a nose.

"She got lost there when she was left in front and I think she did a super job to win," McEvoy said.

"We knew she was fresh and we had a plan - we didn't want to be back off the speed if it turned into a slowly run race."

Roomooz was racing for the first time since finishing unplaced in the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and McEvoy said the daughter of Fastnet Rock will return to Moonee Valley for her next start.

"She'll come back here for the Atlantic Jewel Stakes and then the Guineas Prelude and then the Thousand Guineas," McEvoy said.

"I've always held her in high regard and I think what I was asking her to do in the autumn was a touch soon but when they have got as much ability as she has you press on if they are sound and well.

"I really felt she had improved tremendously and she's as good as any three-year-old I've got - certainly my best filly.

"In twelve months time she'll be better again."

Roomooz was a $480,000 Inglis Easter purchase from the draft of Newgate Farm for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and has won two of four starts earning $130,500.

Bred by SF Bloodstock and foaled and raised at Newgate Farm, Roomooz is the first foal of Group II winning Testa Rossa mare Pane in the Glass.

Newgate Farm sold a Pierro filly from Pane in the Glass for $300,000 at Inglis Easter this year and she has a filly by Deep Field to follow and was covered by Snitzel last year.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Nicks That Click – Looks Like This One Has Worked Again
This nick involving two champion sires is well proven and documented with a two year-old winner last Saturday appearing as the latest example.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
$1million Fastnet Rock Colt Chasing Karaka Million 3YO
Victorian trainer David Hayes will be in New Zealand later this week as he puts the finishing touches on three-year-old colt Conqueror ahead of Saturday’s $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).
More G1 Success for Fastnet Rock’s Avantage
A Champion 2YO that won the Karaka Million in 2018, quality Fastnet Rock mare Avantage again showed her class at Trentham on Saturday when scoring a determined victory in the Group I JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) defeating Enzo’s Lad, who had won the previous two editions of the prestigious sprint.
Milestone for Fastnet Rock
Champion sire Fastnet Rock clocked up his 100th Graded stakes-winner at the weekend in the US when five year-old entire Desert Stone captured the Group II San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Godolphin Make Their Move
The first two days at Magic Millions were without a Godolphin purchase, but they moved swiftly in the first hour of trade on Friday to secure two fillies by Fastnet Rock and Snitzel for $600,000 each.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.