Rock On ready for Sydney Cup
John Sargent’s potential Melbourne Cup hope is ready to roll in the Sydney Cup, but he needs a confirmed starter to drop out before the field is finalised.
The Randwick trainer was sent Rock On from the care of Awapuni trainer and part-owner Gary Vile to get the emerging stayer accustomed to racing in Australia.
He finished third in the Group II Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) on April 1, but now he could face an even tougher test on Saturday.
‘‘Originally he was sent over [to Sydney] for just the one run,’’ Vile said.
‘‘But of course with the Sydney Cup fiasco it opened up the opportunity for him to run in the rescheduled race.
‘‘It was never the intention for him to go to another trainer but I’m busy at home and it was easier to send the horse to Sarge [Sargent].’’
The New Zealand St Leger winner is one of two horses not assured of a start in the 14-horse field which reassembles after the original running of the Group I 3200m feature was abandoned midrace at Randwick on April 8 when Almoonqith broke down.
Sargent is hopeful Rock On, a son of 2010 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Road To Rock, will gain a start.
A possible doubtful starter Annus Mirabilis will take his place after trainer Stuart Webb assessed his Tuesday morning gallop.
Godolphin’s English visitor Polarisation, passed a veterinary inspection yesterday after the stable reported he had had heat in a fetlock over the weekend.
Polarisation crossed the line first in the original Sydney Cup when six riders were unaware the race had been called off.
Rock On’s connections, who include Bill Gleeson a part-owner of Sargent-trained Australian Group I VRC Oaks winner Kirramosa, stumped up the A$11,000 entry fee without hesitation after he backed up well from his Australian debut on a heavy track.
‘‘Now that he’s got fresh legs we thought the race would suit him. He’s acclimatised,’’ Sargent said.
‘‘This was a trip over to give him experience for Melbourne in the spring and he’s done that well.
‘‘Now there’s a $2 million dollar race, you might as well try and run in it.’’
Sargent described Rock On as a ‘‘good lightweight chance’’ should he make the cut after he was given just 51.5kg, a four-kilogram reduction on what he carried in the Chairman’s Handicap.
Vile resisted temptations to test Rock On at 3200m during the New Zealand summer but has no doubts about his staying ability.
‘‘I have no fears about him going two miles and talking to Sarge this morning [Tuesday] he galloped great.
‘‘He’s a lovely horse but it will be a strong field he meets and whether the Sydney Cup comes a bit soon for him who knows – it’s worth a lot of money and will tell us a lot about the horse.’’
Rock On was listed at $26 on TAB fixed odds while others with Kiwi connections in the nominations are Chance To Dance ($12), Who Shot Thebarman ($13), while Mister Impatience and Pentathlon are both long at $101.