Rock Revolution galloped his way into Ladbrokes Alice Springs Gold Cup calculations with an all-the-way win in the Cup Carnival On Sale Now Handicap, feature event at Fannie Bay on Thursday.
The St Patrick’s Day Cup third placegetter, trained by Chloe Baxter, has shown decent staying potential since coming to Darwin late last year, and in his five Top End starts to date, has now won twice over 1600m with front-running tactics.
In the hands of the very much in-form apprentice Deborah Barton, Rock Revolution began well from barrier two and went straight to the front, from where he was able to control the tempo.
Barton increased the speed approaching the home turn and it was clear that the 4yo son of Russian Revolution had his four rivals stretched as he bounded clear at the 300m mark. He kept going resolutely to score by almost three lengths from Rossanado, with Vanguard Legend and the strong-finishing Maxxi Bon close up next.
Baxter said: “It’s full steam ahead to Alice now – both he (Rock Revolution) and Vanguard Legend will head down with other members of my team and we’ll see how we go.
“His run in the St Pat’s Cup was a beauty but even after today, he’ll probably need to win a lead-up race in Alice to ensure a run in the Cup.”
The $120,000 Alice Springs Cup (2000m) will be contested on the first Monday in May.
Rock Revolution has now won five of his 16 starts and with three seconds and two thirds as well, took his stake earnings through the $100,000 barrier with his latest success.
He is owned by Mosquito Creek Racing, managed by former Alice Springs racecaller and nowadays Dubai announcer Pat Comerford, in partnership with his trainer.
Itwasonlyakiss, a $24,000 buy from last year’s Magic Millions Darwin Tried Horse Sale, picked up his first win since when holding on to beat Max Rock in the TRNT Off The Track TROBIS Handicap (1300m).
Trained by Jason Manning and Vanessa Arnott’s only ride for the day, Itwasonlyakiss began well but settled fourth of the five as Patyep held sway at the top. Arnott allowed her mount to improve along the inner approaching the home turn and she stayed on the plastic, gaining a narrow gap on Patyep’s inner at the 280m mark.
The son of Churchill found a couple of lengths and then held on gamely to repel the fast-finishing Max Rock, who got within a half-neck at the line. I’m A Dreamer was close up third, with Miami Baby next.
Purchased by On Fire Racing and Manning, Itwasonlyakiss is raced by a syndicate of owners and has now won three of his 18 starts, and with another six placings, has stakes now of $73,005.
Ankle Rolex, who remarkably has had his entire 41 career starts in the Territory, won his ninth race for co-owner and trainer Pat Johnston with an off-the-canvas effort in the Ladbrokes Handicap (1300m).
Ridden by Raymond Vigar, the 6yo son of Cable Bay began well but could not lead, Bollon and Marvelous Night the early pacesetters before the former took over on his own. Vigar went forward as the turn off the back straight was made and sat just off Bollon, with San Lucido seemingly travelling the better as they rounded the final turn.
Bollon found a kick, San Lucido joined him but it was Ankle Rolex between the pair that would not be denied, finding new reserves to wrest the lead back and score by a half-length from San Lucido, with Bollon just a short neck away.
Ankle Rolex, raced by Johnston and his wife Nicole, was bred by Johnston’s trainer sister Amy, and has been a great money-spinner. After winning four of his first six starts in Darwin, he has gone on to bank just over $180,000 during his career.
And the old adage “there’s no certainties in racing” was borne out in the last of the day, the ROANT Handicap (1200m) when Ecclestone, the raging $1.16 favourite, was soundly beaten by Predicting to give Vigar a race-to-race double.
Predicting ($8.50), who bungled the start last week and basically took no part in the event, began much better this time and led at his leisure. Ecclestone (Jarrod Todd) pursued him and the pair had it between them from as much as 600m from home.
Just when it looked like Ecclestone was about to issue his winning challenge at the 300m mark, Predicting found a good kick and went away late to score by three and a-half lengths eased down, with Ecclestone second, two lengths to the good of Valkur.
Predicting, a 4yo son of Shalaa trained by Tayarn Halter, was winning his second race from 12 outings in Darwin, and all told, he has had 18 starts now for two wins, a second and two fourths for stakes of $59,680.
Story Courtesy Andrew O’Toole