Exciting Central Districts galloper Rock On Wood (NZ) (Redwood) was back to doing what he does best at Awapuni on Saturday where he accounted for his open handicap rivals in the day’s feature event, the John Turkington Forresty/Wai Pine Bulls Country Cup (1400m).
Unsighted since taking out the Listed Anzac Mile (1600m) on the track back in April, the Leanne Elliot-trained five-year-old had warmed up for Saturday’s campaign opener with a handy run for second over 1000m at the Foxton trials earlier in the month.
A copybook ride from Elliot’s son Ryan saw the son of Redwood descend on his rivals at the 200m before cruising clear in a slick time of 1.21.80 for the 1400m journey.
The ease of the victory delighted his trainer who has taken a patient approach with the gelding who has had his share of niggles and maturity issues since his debut victory as a three-year-old at the corresponding meeting back in 2017.
“We gave him a good break after he won at Awapuni and have taken him along quietly this time in,” Elliot said.
“I had planned to have him up and running a little earlier but he wasn’t quite right so we backed off and made sure he was right before we kicked him off.
“I actually thought he would be vulnerable first up over the 1400m carrying that weight (57kgs) but he appeared to do it reasonably easily in the end.
“I was also pleased that Ryan had him a little handier than usual as I had expected him to be further back in the running but getting him closer to the pace probably turned out to be the winning move.”
Never one to get ahead of herself, Elliot isn’t looking too far into the future with her stable star although she is keen to stretch him out to a middle distance at some stage in this campaign.
“He’s never been the greatest eater so we tend to space his races,” Elliot said.
“He ate up okay on Saturday night and had a few bucks when we put him out in his paddock on Sunday morning so he is obviously feeling pretty good in himself.
“I will have to sit down and take a look at what’s coming up but I guess the main aim will be a race at the Wellington Carnival in January.
“Whether that is the Anniversary (Gr.3, 1600m) or the Thorndon Mile (Gr.1, 1600m) I’m not too sure at the moment.
“I do think that he will be a pretty handy sort over a middle distance so I’m quite keen to get him up to 2000m at some stage during this prep.” Raced by Elliot along with her mother Jill Ker and sister Yvonne, Rock On Wood has now won six of his 10 career starts after being purchased for $26,000 from the Long Acres Stud draft by Ker at the 2016 Festival Yearling Sale at Karaka.
