Kiwi sprinter proves she’s the Champion

[Wandering Eyes]

The Michael Moroney-trained Roch ‘N’ Horse has reiterated her class with a second Group One victory at Flemington when defeating Nature Strip in the A$3 million Darley Champions Sprint (1200m).

The daughter of Per Incanto has hardly put a foot wrong since transferring across the Tasman earlier this year from Moroney’s Matamata stable, where he trains in partnership with Pam Gerard.

Despite being a Group One performer in her homeland, Roch ‘N’ Horse was sent out a 100-1 outsider when she landed the Gr.1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) down the Flemington straight earlier this year, and she repeated the dose when defeating a star studded cast at weight-for-age on Saturday.

Global star Nature Strip fought on well for second but had no excuses, with Baller, who had narrowly defeated Roch ‘N’ Horse in the Gr.2 Bobbie Lewis (1200m) earlier in the preparation franking that form when third.

Fellow Kiwi mare Levante ran another blinder down the Flemington straight to finish fourth, the same position the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained mare had finished behind Roch ‘N’ Horse in the Newmarket in March.

Ridden by Jamie Mott, Roch ‘N’ Horse ($20) raced forward of midfield and found plenty under pressure to defeat Australia’s champion sprinter Nature Strip ($1.75 favourite) by a short neck.

Just a length and a half covered the first 10 horses across the line in a thrilling Champions Sprint but it was the green and gold colours of Little Avondale Stud’s six-year-old mare that were to the fore at the post.

In doing so, she joins the likes of Black Caviar and Miss Andretti as mares to win the Champions Sprint under the weight-for-age conditions.

“It was a great effort. When you watch the replay, she just kept coming and hanging on in there,” Moroney said.

“For a while there I thought they would sprint away from her, but she just hung onto them and then really bulldogged to the finish.

“I have got a lot of people to thank but I’ll start off with Pam Gerard back in New Zealand.

“What a great job she did with her. She sent her over mature and she came over at the right time. There was a sense of timing when she came over for the Newmarket, it was perfect and she has gone on here.

“All of my staff have done a great job with her and she can be a little bit cantankerous every now and then but they have worked with her and she is really enjoying being here and is racing really well.”

The happy connections of Roch ‘N’ Horse in celebration mode at Flemington
Photo: Bruno Cannatelli

Moroney said the decision not to run in the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) after the event was postponed due to lightning was a winning move.

“She was fresh today, she’s better on the fresh side. You learn more about them as you go along and I certainly learnt more about her today,” he said.

For winning jockey Jamie Mott, it was his second Group One win, having ticked that box when another Kiwi galloper Callsign Mav won the Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke (1400m) in September.

Mott replaced regular rider Patrick Moloney, who missed the ride after being suspended following his ride on Emissary, who was runner-up in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.

“This is truly what dreams are made of. I was lucky enough to get my first Group One only a month ago and to think I’m here on Finals Day going past Nature Strip, I can’t believe it,” Mott said.

“Callsign Mav was a special feeling but this just takes it to a whole new level.

“I must say I feel sorry for Patrick Moloney. He’s done all the work on this mare and he’s won a Group One on her himself and he got suspended during the week.”

Both Sam and Catriona Williams of Little Avondale Stud were on-hand at Flemington to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Offered as a yearling through Little Avondale’s Book 2 Sale draft at Karaka, Roch ‘N’ Horse failed to meet her reserve of $40,000.

The Williams took home the daughter of their star stallion Per Incanto and the unraced Cecconi mare Rochfort, who is a half-sister to stakes winners Weissmuller and Travolta and Group One placed Harlow Gold.

Roch ‘N’ Horse is one of three well-related fillies the Williams’ syndicated on lease that year, with Group Three winner Belluci Babe and the winning mare Keke Star the others.

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