Stakes Success for Roch ‘n’ Horse (NZ)

Breeders and part-owners Little Avondale Stud passed in Roch ‘n’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto) at Karaka 2018, and a victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Power Turf Sprint (1200m) at Hastings has ensured that they now have a valuable broodmare prospect on their hands. 

The four-year-old chestnut is the winner of three of her eight starts, with two placings and $78,800 in stakes – already almost double her $40,000 reserve in Book 2 of Karaka 2018.

Roch ‘n’ Horse had to jump from the extreme outside gate on Saturday against a talented sprint field, but apprentice jockey Ashvin Goindasamy was able to bring her across into a handy position in sixth, one off the rail.

Goindasamy got her balanced up in the straight and then brought her down the outside with a strong finish, hitting the lead 100m from home and edging ahead to win by three-quarters of a length.

Roch ‘n’ Horse has been racing for only six months, having kicked off with a debut victory over 1000m at Te Aroha on October 28. She won a $50,000 race at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day at her third start, and has stepped up to black-type grade for her three most recent appearances.

She was beaten by a nose when second in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) at Trentham on March 20, then unplaced on significantly rain-affected ground in the Listed Flying Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni two weeks later.

“She has had some immaturity problems, but has come right with age and some time on her side,” co-trainer Pam Gerard told NZ Racing Desk.

“We had to nurse her along in those early starts, but as she has matured, she has got better and better. She is a very honest mare who puts in 100% every time she steps out.

“The good thing is that she has proved herself at this level, and we now know what we can look towards in her next campaign, where she should have enough rating points to get into the better races.

“We’ll put her out now, because she won’t handle the tracks any worse than what she struck today.”

Saturday’s Power Turf Sprint produced a Karaka quinella, with runner-up Mr Universe (NZ) (Smart Missile) being a graduate of Diamond Lodge’s draft at the 2017 Ready to Run Sale.