Rokkii ready for an Orr-some performance at good odds
TRAINER David Hayes says He’s Our Rokkii is the forgotten horse of the Group 1 Orr Stakes at Caulfield today and can build on his brilliant spring campaign.
“He couldn’t have done much more last time, winning three races, including the Toorak Handicap at Group 1, before he failed in the Emirates at the end of his spring,” he said.
Hayes said He’s Our Rokkii would be regarded as one of Australia’s best horses after this preparation.
“He came on a lot last time in to win a Group 1 race, so he’s already a pretty good horse and I’d expect that trend to continue,” the trainer said.
He’s Our Rokkii put together three straight wins at Caulfield in the spring, with the first two over the Orr Stakes distance of 1400m.
Despite Hayes’ optimism, the four-year-old opened at $10 in fixed-odds betting and has drifted to $14.
Black Heart Bart has firmed to $3.80 favourite for the Orr Stakes as Malaguerra eased to $4. Arod is in from $34 to $15.
Hayes is setting He’s Our Rokkii for the Doncaster Mile on April 1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes a week later, both at Randwick.
He said the gelding had pleased him in his two jumpouts at Flemington.
Hayes has placed winkers on $2.70 favourite Catchy in today’s fillies’ Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield.
“Her best work was at the end of her race last start, so the winkers have been put on her to sharpen her up in the early stages,” he said.
“She’s had a nice gap between her races. Hopefully we can get a black-type win for her before going into the Blue Diamond.”
Hayes has two runners in the Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings, Wait For No One ($21) and Will’s Bid ($41). He said both were better chances than their odds indicated.
He said Regan Bayliss, who rode Wait For No One last start, should have been given a speeding ticket for going too fast in the early stages.
“Damian Lane will ride and he will be ridden more quietly and that should lead to a better run,” Hayes said, adding the $41 about Will’s Bid was “ridiculous”.
“He raced greenly when he won at Geelong but he’s come on a lot since then.”