ROCKED CLAIMS A LAST STRIDE VICTORY

By Graham Potter | Friday, July 28, 2023

There was only a nose in it at the end, but that was enough for the Chris Meehan trained Rocked to claim his second career success in a QTIS Three-Year-Old BM 65 Handicap over 1666m at Ipswich on July 28.

It was back on January 14 when Rocked landed his first career success, perhaps significantly also at Ipswich over a similar trip (1690m). On that occasion the son of Fastnet Rock was ridden by dual licensee holder, jockey-trainer Chris Meehan himself, but on this occasion the four-year-old was partnered by Mark Du Plessis.

Du Plessis had, in fact, ridden Rocked in his last run prior to this Ipswich engagement in a QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1805m at Eagle Farm, in which he finished fifth … but only 1.50 lengths behind the winner … at a starting price of $101.

That result was certainly good enough to put him in the race here and Rocked duly started on the fourth line of betting as a $6 chance.

There was no rush early as du Plessis settled Rocked just worse than midfield as the field went down the back straight and Rocked still had some eight lengths to find at the start of the sweep to the home turn.

At that stage Du Plessis placed Rocked on the back of the $4 favourite Goldeeluck, and these two runners started to up the ante as they headed for the home turn where they cornered five wide … with Rocked still a length-and-a-half behind Goldeeluck, tracking his every move.

There was still plenty of ground to make up, but Goldeeluck quickly set about that task with meaning, ranging up to join the battle for the lead by the 100m … and then, momentarily winning that battle … only for Rocked, who Goldeeluck had in tow all the way down the straight, to fly up late to snatch a last-gasp victory in the very last stride under, quite literally, an inch perfect ride by Du Plessis.

More articles