Rocknet treads well- worn path
STICKING to what works is the name of the game for Wulguru trainer Tony Comerford ahead of Saturday’s Ladies Day Rack’N’Stack Warehouse Open Handicap ( 1609m).
Comerford’s consistent performer Rocknet will be chasing his first big win of the year since taking out last year’s Cairns Amateurs Cup. And while the Far North Queensland meet is again the main game, Comerford is hopeful Rocknet’s consistency will be enough to seen him challenge on Saturday at Cluden Park.
Rocknet was spelled after a win over 2200m at the Gold Coast on January 7 and resumed with a third over 1400m at Cluden on June 1.
His subsequent Cluden starts have included a third over 1400m on June 20 and a fourth over 1609m on June 29.
Rocknet is treading a similar path to last year’s surge to the Cairns Amateurs.
“It’s exactly the same as last year,” Comerford said.
“He had three good runs before the Cairns Amateurs Cup, so nothing’s changed and I think he should go well.
“He’ll be carrying 60kg so he’s got a big weight, but over the mile he should be finishing pretty strong.
“He’s always consistent, he’s always a threat.”
Rocknet and Comerford combined to win $ 75,000 from last year’s Cairns Amateurs Cup, a career kick- starting victory for his stable.
Having just two horses in work at the time, Rocknet’s win was easily Comerford’s best after the seven- year- old gelding finished a half- length second to Chateau Dettori at the Cairns Cup two weeks earlier.
Rocknet’s purple patch in Cairns followed an eighth in the 2016 Townsville Cup and Comerford is looking for a better showing in next week’s feature.
And while the Townsville Cup and a trip to Cairns will again be Comerford’s main goal, Saturday’s run will still rank high on his season hitlist.
“It’s good prizemoney and like I said a good race to have ahead of the Townsville Cup and Cairns,” Comerford said.
“We’ll go in and have a go, but I’m more than quietly confident he’ll be comfortable over that mile.”
Rocknet has been a consistent money winner with seven wins, six seconds and 11 thirds over this career, netting over $ 206,000 in prizemoney.