Born to Rock gave her New Zealand based connections plenty to cheer about when she scored a dominant on speed win in today’s listed Gai Waterhouse Classic (1350m) at Ipswich.
A three-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock, Born to Rock won twice in New Zealand prior to heading to Australia where she has now won two races at Ipswich – importantly today’s at stakes level.
The free rolling filly was sent out the favourite with on and off course punters and she didn’t give her followers any reason to worry as she hummed along in front under Matthew Palmer for a comprehensive success.
“Her run was terrific actually,” Palmer said. “She’s got a huge cruising speed.”
“We were able to get the lead and once we got to the half mile and I was sitting quiet on her, I was pretty confident a long way out.”
“It was going to take something pretty strong to run home over the top of her.”
Palmer said the filly would have to learn to take a sit and get cover if she was to excel at distances past 1400 metres.
“She’s strong up to these distances and she seems very comfortable doing it,” he noted.
The filly was purchased by connections for $210,000 from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale at the Gold Coast.
She is one of two stakes performers this season for her dam, the beautifully related Call Me Pretty. The other is this season’s exciting juvenile Cindarockinrella – already the earner of over $135,000.
An unraced daughter of Peaks and Valleys, Call Me Pretty is a half sister to international stakes winners Warrior Queen and Tiger’s Rock. The former is the dam of group winning sire A.P. Warrior.
Also in the family are international Group One winners Green Tune, Dr Zic, Pas De Reponse and champion sire Storm Bird.
Born to Rock is the 16th individual stakes winner for Fastnet Rock and joins fellow Magic Millions graduates Lone Rock, Curved Ball, Dino Mak, Gybe and Hot Butterfly on that growing list.
Cranbourne trainer Robbie Grifftins paid $25,000 for Born to Rock’s half sister by Magnus from the Erinvale Thoroughbreds draft at January’s Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Winner: Born to Rock
Breeding: Fastnet Rock-Call Me Pretty (Danehill)
Race: Ipswich TC Gai Waterhouse Classic LR (1350m)
Sold for: $210,000
Sale: 2008 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Yarraman Park (As Agent)
Buyer: Gwent Holdings
Earnings: $89,199
Owner(s): GKV Holdings & M Head
Trainer: Michael Moroney (Flemington)
PICS – Dan Costello.
