Promising juvenile lays down the hammer on debut

[Wandering Eyes]

By Joshua Smith, Harness News Desk

Rocknroll Hammer made the perfect start to his racing career when taking out the Lincoln Farms Mobile Pace (1700m) at Alexandra Park on Thursday night.

Driver Tony Herlihy was able to navigate the colt into an early one-one position before pressing forward to take the lead at the bell. He soon handed up to stablemate On Deadline and Rocknroll Hammer was able to enjoy the trail.

Turning for home Herlihy opted to shift his charge out into the one-one once more, however, he quickly decided to shift back onto the markers and take advantage of the passing lane where the Logan Hollis and Shane Robertson-trained colt was able to get the better of his rivals and score by half a head over Colonel Lincoln, with a further three-quarters of a length back to On Deadline for third.

Hollis said while Rocknroll Hammer still has plenty to learn, he has stacks of ability.

“Tony said he was very green, but he doesn’t lack ability. He learnt a lot from the race and we are really happy with him,” Hollis said.

Hollis was just as pleased with the debut efforts of On Deadline to run third.

“We are over the moon with him because he did a lot of work in the running. I think he only finished a length away from them. He went super,” he said.

While he has made a pleasing start to his career, the Rocknroll Hammer has plenty to live up to. The A Rocknroll Dance colt is the son of Group One winner Twist And Twirl, and the half-brother to 11-time Group One winner King Of Swing and seven-time Group One winner Bettor Twist.

With such promising performances on debut, Hollis is looking forward to the remainder of the season with both colts.

“They are both nice horses and it was a great learning experience for them, they are both still pretty green. It was good to get them away from Pukekohe and have a run,” he said.

“Rocknroll Hammer is paid up for all of the big races down at Addington at the end of the season, so he will probably have a freshen-up. We will give him a few more races for experience.

“On Deadline will probably press on and race through Auckland meetings. He is only paid up for the Sires Stakes at the moment.”

Adding to Hollis and Robertson’s juvenile arsenal this season is Two Eye See who will shortly make his return after a short spell following his run in the Gr.2 Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes (1700m) in March.

“He raced in the Young Guns series without any luck,” Hollis said.

“He is a very nice two-year-old that we like as well. He is about five weeks away from the trials and he goes really smart.

“It is good to have some nice young ones in the barn and not have to sell them either. The owners are wanting to keep them and race them, so that is a positive as well.”

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