Rock On Top, who was sold for $18,000 at the 2020 APG Perth yearling sale, has bright prospects of notching his third win from four starts when he contests the $50,000 Group 2 APG WA Gold Bullion final for two-year-old colts and geldings at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He reappeared after an absence of 40 days when he gave an impressive performance to win a qualifying heat from The Wildcard and Seven No Trumps on Tuesday of last week.
Rock On Top started from barrier five in the field of six and raced in fourth position, one-out and one-back, before running home strongly with a three-wide burst in which he covered the final 400m in 28sec.
Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo said he was pleased with the win, adding: “He did a bit better than I thought he would. He was a bit underdone, first-up for more than a month and he sprinted over the top of them really well.
“He overcame barrier five in the heat, and he has definitely got the ability to win from barrier six this week. Although this is a bit stronger race, I reckon he’s up to them. I have been happy with him since his latest win, and his work this morning (Tuesday) was really good.”
Rock On Top’s chief rivals appear to be the Ross Olivieri-trained Follow The Music and Shane Quadrio’s The Wildcard.
Rock On Top rated 1.59.2 in his heat, and Follow The Music was not extended in setting the pace from the No. 1 barrier and winning his heat by just under two lengths from Rellim, rating 1.58.5.
“Follow The Music went well in his heat and he should be better in the final,” said Olivieri. “He was injured in a heat of the Sales Classic (when fourth behind Rock On Top in mid-February) and was unable to run in the final. We were lucky that he didn’t damage a tendon when he was struck on a boot, but we had to give him two weeks off.”
Star reinsman Chris Voak said that Follow The Music had trained on well since his heat win. “He is the only runner on the back line, and I’m not quite sure how to drive him. If I get clear running, he can win.”
The Wildcard will be driven by Kyle Harper and will start from the No. 3 barrier. He followed an all-the-way win over 1684m at Pinjarra with a well-beaten third behind Griffin Lodge at Gloucester Park and then a good second to Rock On Top in the Gold Bullion heat when he trailed the pacemaker Seven No Trumps.