Heaven Rocks heading to paddock
An erratic yet brilliant trial at Rangiora on Wednesday has put the final nail in the coffin of Heaven Rocks‘ Breeders Crown campaign.
The glint in Mark Purdon’s eye when the name Heaven Rocks comes up is enough to confirm how good the fractious but talented pacer will be when his time comes - but patience will be required.
Purdon, who trains in partnership with Natalie Rasmussen, has confirmed the Harness Jewels winner is off to the paddock.
‘‘He’s an enormous talent but he’ll spell now,’’ Purdon said.
The strapping son of Rock N Roll Heaven, was never happy when preparing to line up behind the mobile on Wednesday.
After rearing twice and then being settled by two attendants, Heaven Rocks still did not get into a pace until he was around 100m behind the field.
He made up ground to be about 60m behind the field at the 2000m start point but jogged home to beat c2 pacer Astro Boy by a neck.
The time for the 2000m trip was 2:30.7 but with his handicap Heaven Rocks would have gone significantly quicker.
His final sectionals were 56.5 and 27.5 but although his ability is seemingly limitless - it will not truly be seen until he matures mentally.
But his fractious behaviour at the start makes a Breeders Crown trip too risky given he would still have to qualify at Ballarat on August 12 just to make the following week’s semifinals.
Heaven Rocks blew his chances of qualifying at Addington on July 15 when he went into a wild gallop to gift Franco Cristiano the win.
If he was more polished at Rangiora, Heaven Rocks was likely to join stablemates Partyon, Pacing Major and Custodian on the plane on Friday to join Our Waikiki Beach and My MacKenzie - who are already racing in Australia - for the Breeders Crown.
Purdon was over the moon with Heaven Rocks’ second half of the trial after he was a little wound up early with a horse outside of him.
‘‘Once I got parked with a lap to go he was full proof from there.’’
Another Harness Jewels winner, Custodian, was a trial winner for the All Stars stable on Wednesday.
Starting off 10m in a three horse field, Purdon sent the son of Muscle Mass forward at the 600m mark and he runaway to beat c1 trotter King Of The Roses by three and a quarter lengths.
‘‘Very happy with him. He steps good and he’s trotting solid,’’ Purdon said.
Our Waikiki Beach, who is likely to race on Friday after winning a trial at Menangle on Tuesday, will line up in the semifinals following his heat win at Menangle on July 12.
Meanwhile, the All Stars stable will have four New Zealand Cup nominations with Smolda, Have Faith In Me, Titan Banner and the outstanding three-year-old of this season Lazarus.
Purdon said the stable were keeping their options open for the Perth Inter Dominion series but Smolda was the most likely at this stage.
‘‘I’m keen on Smolda, Purdon said. ‘‘It would mean not running in the (New Zealand Trotting) Cup.’’
But a final decision would not come until until all four have been sighted in the usual cup lead up races.