Leading trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo predicted many more wins for Rockokoko after driving the six-year-old to victory in the $21,000 HTA Success Solutions over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is a quality animal who is getting better with every run,” said de Campo after Rockokoko, the $1.60 favourite, was not extended in setting a brisk pace and beating the fast-finishing pair of Lincoln River ($12) and Bettor Arcade ($26).
“He has had his troubles in the past, but he has high speed and should be able to run through the classes. He felt good out in front, and he probably looks worse than he feels.”
De Campo had a few anxious moments when Rockokoko’s one-legged spreader became loose on the home turn. “So, I needed to nurse him over the final 150 metres to make sure he got across the line okay,” said de Campo.
Rockokoko dashed over the final 400m sections in 27.7sec. and 28sec., and he rated a smart 1.56.4. He now has earned $97,263 from seven wins and 13 placings from 31 starts.
Oakford trainer Jemma Hayman landed a double with Your Grace winning the opening event, the Good Luck Gary Hall Pace, and Petes Honour scoring an easy victory in the final event, the HTA Taking You To New Heights Handicap.
Your Grace, driven by Kyle Harper, was a $48.90 outsider when he enjoyed an ideal passage in the one-out and two-back position before he ran home with a solid burst to win by a nose from Spudmeister ($15) in a blanket finish.
This made amends for Your Grace’s failure as a well-fancied $4.60 chance the previous Friday night when he set the pace and faded to finish last behind Mister Piccolo in the field of twelve.
“Obviously, the early burn didn’t suit him last week, and tonight we settled close enough,” said Harper. “However, I thought the pace was too slow (with opening quarters of 31.3sec. and 31.1sec.).”
Your Grace was pushed three wide 500m from home and then was forced five wide 250m later before surging home out six wide to snatch a last-stride victory over Spudmeister.
The WA-bred Your Grace has raced 88 times for six wins, 24 placings and $87,809.
Petes Honour, driven by Chris Voak, made light of his 40m handicap when he sustained a powerful run from the rear in the middle stages to get to the front 450m from home before racing away to beat the pacemaker Lukes Mistake ($6) by two lengths.
Louie Lebeau ($5.70) ended a losing sequence of 18 when he raced without cover before getting up in the final stride to beat the frontrunning Beat The Bank ($7.50) by a nose in the 2130m HTA Setting New Standards In Hoisting Pace. He was driven by Callan Suvaljko for trainer Craig Hynam
