Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Rock of Gibraltar provided one of the feature winners at Caulfield last Saturday when the Dale Sutton trained La Rocket took out the Gr 2 Pure Blonde St George Stakes over 1800m.  His likely target may now be the Gr 1 Australian Cup at Flemington on March 6.  The Wadham Park owned galloper has been most consistent, having won 6 and placing on 14 occasions from his 28 starts.  La Rocket is one of 4 Stakes winners so far this season for Rock of Gibraltar.  This followed the win of 3YO filly Europa Point (by Rock Of Gibraltar) on Friday night at Moonee Valley.  The Lee Freedman trained filly took out the $100,000 W & P Truck Sales Premium Plate over 1200m.  Rock of Gibraltar is the sire of Champion’s recent purchase from the Classic sale, a filly from Regal Prospect.

One of Australia’s most popular sires, Commands, produced the winner of the Listed Rydges Parramatta Cup at Rosehill last Saturday.  The Kevin Moses trained Deltona, led the entire 2000m when rated perfectly by jockey Tim Clark.  The 6YO has had a most consistent preparation, and has now won 7 races and over $300,000 for breeders Don and Val Storey.  His next run is likely to be in the Gr 3 Randwick City Stakes in 3 weeks.  Commands still sits comfortably on top of the Leading Sires by Winners list and has had 18 winners in the last 30 days.

More Than Ready produced his 65th stakes winner at Rosehill on Saturday when talented filly Patronyme prevailed in the Listed Lustre Lodge Triscay Stakes over 1200m.  Ridden confidently by champion jockey Corey Brown, the Joe Pride trained filly proved too classy for her rivals to win easily by a length.  More Than Ready is again enjoying a most successful season through the deeds of  recent stakes performers More Joyous, More Than Great etc and sits in the top 10 Leading Sires by Prizemoney.  More Than Ready is the sire of Champion's recent Magic Millions purchase, a colt from Artistique.

Now deceased sire Anabaa was unlucky not to feature with another stakes winner on Saturday at Caulfield.  The Tony Noonan trained 4Y0 mare Be Positive was narrowly beaten when runner up in the Gr 3 TBV Mannerism Stakes over 1400m.  Recent Stakes performers by Anabaa include the Peter Moody trained speedster Avenue, as well as Corsaire and Court.