Talented young trotter Rocknroll Baby was on her best behaviour at Globe Derby Park on Saturday scoring an impressive win in the 2018 Podiatry Care Gawler Hambletonian Trotters Cup (2645m).
Trained and driven by Greg Norman at Two Wells, Rocknroll Baby ($4) scored by four metres from Ten Spanners ($3.10) with Im Havinaball ($3 fav), a head away third.
The mare is only a four-year-old, a ‘baby’ in terms of square gaiters and gave away age to most of her rivals in scoring a comfortable win.
Rocknroll Baby was beaten a week earlier behind Im Havinaball, galloping on the last lap.
“She had a legitimate excuse,” Norman said.
“Two horses in front of her locked wheels and I had to turn her sideways to avoid them and in doing so she twisted and lost a shoe, and that was what made her gallop.
“Tonight, everything went perfectly, and she showed how good she can be. She is still only young so has a bright future.”
Rocknroll Baby, owned by Terry Cormack in partnership with his sons Adam and Ben, gave them consecutive Hambletonians, as they have Al Bundy which won last year. He is trained by Norman and was driven by Jock Dunlop.
The mare trotted away slowly but safely from gate one and settled midfield.
When Bold Law, trained in Nuriootpa by Marcus Hearl, which had come off 30 metres, was taken to the front, Norman decided to come around and have an attempt at taking the lead.
Michael Smith, on Bold Law, wanted to keep the front so Rocknroll Baby was forced to sit parked for the last lap and a half, but she was up to the challenge and outstayed her rivals in the run to the finish.
Second placegetter Ten Spanners, also just a four-year-old mare trained and driven by Ryan Hryhorec at Two Wells, ran very well.
She galloped when attempting to take the lead with two laps to go and went back to the tail of the field but ran home strongly to take second.
Gawler Cup night is proving a good night for Norman as he has also trained two pacing Cup winners – Mythical Beast (2007) and Ti Vogliobene (2012), both driven by Jock Dunlop.
Despite being only four, Rocknroll Baby already has had 48 starts for 13 wins and 10 placings earning more than $67,000 in stakes.
