Aussie’s attack on NZ paying off
PATRICK Moloney showed his quality at Ellerslie aboard a willing partner in On The Rocks to boost long-term classic hopes for the well-related colt.
The Victorian jockey gave a polished display on Saturday aboard the Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained three-yearold with a front-running ride that landed them major honours in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m).
Moloney is Moroney’s stable jockey in Australia and jumped at the opportunity of a quick-fire trip to New Zealand to fill in for a suspended Jake Bayliss, another Victorian-based rider who has undertaken a six month riding stint based in Matamata.
‘‘Mike gave me the call up and I was really impressed with the way this horse won,’’ said Moloney, who was also successful on stablemate Bocce at Otaki on Friday.
‘‘He’s got a lot of upside,’’ Moloney said.
By Alamosa out of a half-sister to the Group I Melbourne Cup winner Efficient, On The Rocks jumped to the front and set an easy clip before sprinting on the turn.
‘‘It wasn’t the plan to lead the race, but after I gave the horse a squeeze out of the barrier he landed there and relaxed,’’ Moloney said.
‘‘I got away with a couple of cheap sectionals and he held a good, strong gallop down the straight.’’
On The Rocks’ performance saw his odds for his autumn target – the Group I Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) - tumble from $31 to $12.
‘‘He’s a really nice colt, I’ve got a lot of time for him,’’ Gerard said.
‘‘The inside draw helped dramatically and it was a fantastic ride by Patrick.’’
The filly Kapoor was on the pace all the way and she chased gamely in the closing 400m to take second ahead of the warm favourite Demonetization.
The previously unbeaten colt settled three back on the fence and was doing his best work in the closing stages.
Meanwhile, Mark Blackie has yet to sign off on a summer programme for his smart sprinting mare Joy Anna, but it’s a fair bet that Auckland will be figuring prominently in his plans.
The lightly-raced star of the Tauranga trainer’s boutique stable has already displayed a fondness for the premier course with two wins from three visits.
Joy Anna was successful in a rating 65 contest on the track last TRISH DUNELL month and on Saturday she coped admirably with a sharp rise in class to put away a competitive rating 85 line-up the Brookby Stables Handicap (1100m).
‘‘She’s just taken a bit of time and she’s come to it now,’’ Blackie said.
‘‘I haven’t got anything worked out yet, but she really does like Ellerslie.’’
Joy Anna has shown a propensity to lead in her races, but this time she sat back kindly in third spot before asserting her dominance.
‘‘She’s pretty talented and she’s got a high cruising speed so it was nice to see her take a sit and learn a bit,’’ Blackie said.
He is also part of the syndicate that races Joy Anna with the Hawkins family, who operate Wentwood Grange and bred the daughter of Iffraaj.
The four-year-old was ridden for the first time by Mark Du Plessis, who had the mare coasting in third spot and bided his time in the straight before asking her to lengthen stride. KEVIN Gray was given encouragement on Saturday to raise his sights with his in-form staying mare All In Vogue.
The Palmerston North horseman has her in the Group III Wallaceville Estate Wellington Cup (3200m) and she did her prospects of a start no harm with victory in the Listed Cambridge Thoroughbred Lodge Wanganui Cup (2040m).
A past visit to Trentham indicated that All In Vogue could cope with the extra distance of the staying feature on January 20.
‘‘She’s nominated and she’s already run a mile and a-half well there so the two miles may not be a problem,’’ Gray said.
He was referring to All In Vogue’s second placing behind Rock On, a winner at Otaki on Friday, in last season’s Listed New Zealand St Leger (2500m).
A daughter of Pins and the multiple Group I winner Tall Poppy, All In Vogue was given a sweet run near the pace at Wanganui by Leah Hemi and they came with a well-timed run to take the day’s main event.
Gray had been in a confident pre-race mood following the fiveyear-old’s bold showing to finish runner-up in the Waverley Cup (2200m) at her previous appearance.
‘‘I thought she went a top race and the track today was perfect for her and she had the right weight,’’ he said.
Blathwayt came home strongly to take second money from Balham, who is now likely to head north for the Group III Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) in a fortnight’s time.
Earlier, reigning national jockeys’ premiership champion Chris Johnson put on a masterclass with three winners inside the first four races.
Fresh from his black type victory aboard Matchbreaker in the Group III Lucia Valentina Wellington Stakes at Otaki on Friday, Johnson brought up his hat-trick with wins aboard Hollypop, Bruegel and Savatag.
Apprentice Madan Singh also enjoyed a successful day out at Wanganui on Saturday with a pair of victories.
Singh rode a race-to-race double between races five and six.
The first came with the Brendon McDermott-trained Kairanga Lad and the second with Tony Bambry-trained Adonis.
The Mike Breslin-trained Sweepstake was an impressive four and three quarter length winner of a quality rating 75 line up over 1340m in the last race of the day.
‘ Mike gave me the call up and I was really impressed with the way this horse won’ PATRICK MOLONEY