Stars And Stripes: Former North American Johny Rock resumes at Addington tomorrow night
Generous harness racing benefactor Chris Garrard has headed to New Zealand.
And he’s on a mission.
The Brisbane based businessman is a jack of all trades (owner, breeder and huge sponsor) in the racing codes but has flown to Christchurch today in readiness to watch his pacer Johny Rock.
Garrard shares in the ownership of the former North American entire who resumes tomorrow (Friday) night in the Raymond Donnelly & Co Pace and plenty is at stake.
A lot more than the $12,000 in prizemoney.
A forward showing could ensure a trip to Queensland this month for the running of the opening leg of the new Grand Circuit season with the $200,000 Queensland Pacing Championship at Albion Park on October 25.
Coincidentally, that race is sponsored by Garrard.
“I would love to see this horse race in my home town and in the race I sponsor but there is a fair bit of sorting out logistically plus we need to see where the horse is at before committing to a campaign like this because it won’t be easy, it never is at this level.” Garrard said.
Prepared by father/con combination of Graham and Paul Court, the team behind New Zealand Cup champion Terror To Love, Johny Rock looks better suited to mobile start and speed racing rather than standing start marathons he faces in New Zealand.
In his only’ downunder’ start to date; the Rocknroll Hanover five-year-old produced an outstanding effort when a gutsy third behind Vice Chairman and Tiger Tara at Addington back in February in a stunning time of 1;51.9.
“I know the team are happy with his trial form this campaign and he’s still work in progress so they’ve deliberately looked after him in those trials. His sectional times have been impressive so I’m sure he’ll perform well.
“Although it’s a small field, he still meets quality opposition like Arden Rooney, Vice Chairman, Jivin Cullen and Lumos but he goes like he did first-up, I’m sure he won’t be far away again.
“We’ve being tossing the idea of Queensland around for some time but the horse will tell us if he’s ready for a campaign like that when he starts tomorrow, we’re also looking at Sydney features with the big track and mobile sprint races so we’ve got plenty of options but the horses dictates which way we go.”
A winner of 9 races from 26 career starts, Johny Rock arrives on Australian soil as a C3 M1.
Johny Rock has a ‘PB’ of 1;48 which he set as a 3yo at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs last year when beating older rivals; the time was just 0.2 outside the world record on a 1000m track.
