MY CALL - LOVE ROCKS GOES FROM A MULTIPLE, FAST CLASS 6 WINNER TO THE NEW SPRINTING SENSATION

By David Fowler | Tuesday, December 24, 2013

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

I'd have no hesitation in running Love Rocks in next Tuesday's Bernborough Handicap at the Toowoomba grass track comeback meeting.

But, of course, I don't own a strand of hair of his tail and will have to wait a few days to see him run in the Goldmarket at the Gold Coast on January 4.

Love Rocks leapt from a multiple fast Class 6 winner to a sprinting sensation courtesy of his Lough Neagh demolition on the weekend.

Like I often say, times tell the tale. Producing a 1:17.43 performance from start-to-finish puts him in elite company.

And he's the "veteran" of only 11 starts! Plus he produced the power all by himself from barrier to box.

As racing enthusiasts, we all want a piece of him now. Where will he start next? What's his main mission?

I'm as guilty as the next man as I had my first real chat with trainer Steve Tregea after the last on the weekend.

Steve knows he's got a happy and healthy horse so tipping him out with several handy targets on the horizon seemed a waste.

****************************************************************************************************

I have no doubt that Love Rocks would handle the Bernborough assignment being run at a more sedate pace.

But therein lies the burning question. Can he relax once he is in front?

In his last three spectacular performances he has (a) led at a fast clip (b) hooked outside the leader midrace and (c) led and be taken on at a fast clip

Can he bowl comfortably going 12 seconds to the furlong?

That scenario is unlikely to be tested in the Goldmarket, a traditionally fast-run race.

Another point to ponder.

Gambling guru Mark Read often pointed out in his associated form analysis that a horse can deliver a career-best performance … "reach the top of the tree" he'd like to say … and then there's only one way to go.

I doubt we saw that with Love Rocks considering he is only an early season four-year-old with 11 runs on the board.

*****************************************************************************************************

Love Rocks' stunning display relived memories of Gordon Yorke's Natural Destiny for several reasons.

It was seven years ago, a few days out from Christmas, that he won the same race, bolting over the trip in the now track record 1:17.09.

He then went to the Bernborough, the traditional third leg of the "unofficial" summer crown, and it created a great talking point of whether he would run the distance and achieve the hat-trick.

I recall being rung far too early by Wayne Wilson on race morning to say he was ill and wouldn't be broadcasting and I was given the opportunity to call the grey make it three in a row.

I remember it as one of my favourite calls as he burst clear in the last 100m to the cheers of a big crowd.

Similar to what Love Rocks would have done in next Tuesday's Bernborough!

****************************************************************************************************

The Magic Millions two and three-year-old jigsaw will be nearly complete after this weekend's racing at Doomben and Canterbury.

Both races seem to have a cluster of four or five at the top of the market which will be fine-tuned after Saturday's racing and ultimately the barrier draws.

Betting markets are widely available and I will make three points regarding them.

If you can secure $9 or $10 about Enquare in the Magic Millions Guineas, you are shopping well.

I consider Oakleigh Girl's $5 quote is more than reasonable in the two-year-old.

If you fancy a real gamble, take the $26 about the Gerald Ryan-trained juvenile Jetwings who will run at Canterbury on Saturday. The vibe about him is positive.

****************************************************************************************************

Hope you all have a great day tomorrow.

After the traditional family lunch, I make the annual journey to enjoy time with one of Australia's greatest but unheralded gamblers of the past in Bill Unwin and his family and friends.

Rising 80 and with a William junior grandson now by his side, we'll share the same punting tales and exploits we do every year.

They get funnier as we get older!

Merry Christmas

More articles