Rock On Wood (NZ) Delivers Family Group One Glory

A $26,000 purchase at the 2016 Festival Sale at Karaka took a popular family to racing’s pinnacle in the $200,000 Group One Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.

Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood) is trained by Leanne Elliot and was ridden by her son Ryan, and the six-year-old gelding gave them both their first taste of Group One glory. Rock On Wood has now earned $324,300 for Elliot, who also shares ownership with her sister Yvonne Ker and mother Jill Ker. Rock On Wood has earned more than 12 times his purchase price.

Ryan Elliott always had Rock On Wood travelling comfortably in Saturday’s prestigious weight-for-age feature, despite racing three wide in midfield among a talented line-up. Elliot angled Rock On Wood out to the centre of the track at the top of the home straight, then sent the high-class gelding into full flight.

Rock On Wood powered past the front-running Deerfield (NZ) (Falkirk) and took the lead inside the last 200 metres. Despite a big late finish from runner-up Concert Hall (NZ) (Savabeel), Rock On Wood was well out of reach and won by a length.

“It’s blimmin’ awesome,” Leanne Elliot said. “He was so good. I was worried about the slow track, and when he was three wide I thought, ‘Oh no.’ But he was awesome, and it’s Ryan’s first Group One too.”

Ryan Elliot was similarly overjoyed, standing high in the saddle with his right arm aloft as Rock On Wood passed the finish line.

“It’s so special to win this for Mum,” he said. “My first winner was on one of hers too. For Mum to get such a good horse, and for me to win a Group One on it, is just awesome.

“He’s put in a big effort and done it well. He jumped well, and when they pushed up inside him, I thought I’d just stay where I was. There wasn’t any point in going back.

“I got a bit of a windbreak from Times Ticking (NZ) (Tavistock) on the corner, which helped me out, and then he sprinted really well.”

Rock On Wood was offered by Long Acres Stud at the 2016 Festival Sale and is out of the six-race winner Rock On Rye (Catcher in the Rye).

Cambria Park will offer a full-sister to Rock On Wood at Karaka 2021. The Redwood filly will go through the ring as Lot 75 in Book 1.