FLEM MAR 13 - ROCK CLASSIC TOPS THE CHARTS

By Scott Gooley and Graham Potter | Monday, March 15, 2010

Flemington, March 12, 2010.
Track - Good 3. Rail - True.
Crown Guineas (Group 1 - 3yo - Set Weights). Time: 1-36.80 (Carrying 55.5kgs).
1. Rock Classic 2. Set For Fame 3. Linton.

The winning combination of trainer Bart Cummings and jockey Michael Rodd have struck again with Rock Classic upsetting his more fancied rivals to take out the Group One, Crown Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

A son of Fastnet Rock, Rock Classic had won two of his four starts in Sydney prior to taking his place in the Guineas where he was quoted a $18 chance in the betting which was dominated by Denman ($1.50) who was going into the race unbeaten this prep and bidding for his fourth successive win.

Denman was caught flat-footed at the start. Despite being slowly away, the favourite was quickly sent forward from his wide gate where he settled half-a-length behind Guru Bob. Carrara, who was fast away, settled a length away in third with a similar margin to Rock Classic racing on the outside of Set To Fame.

At the 1000m mark only a moderate pace was being established up front. Rock Classic was travelling sweetly in fifth spot for Rodd, one off the fence and five lengths off the speed.

Passing the 600m Denman shaded Guru Bob in front. Set For Fame was directly behind them waiting on a run. Carrara was fourth and easing three wide ready to make his claim. Trailing Carrara, perfectly poised to strike, was Rock Classic.

As the field straightened for the run home Carrara moved up quickly to second on the outside of Denman and Rock Classic peeled off Carrara’s back and loomed ominously four wide. With Guru Bob quickly under pressure and unable to hold his position, Set For Fame was held up momentarily for a run behind Guru Bob and Denman before being able to dive back to the rails and stake his claim as the contest for the honours became really intense with 300m left to run.

Denman and Carrara were the first to feel the heat and they began to weaken under pressure inside the final 250m. Rock Classic was operating on the other end of the scale. He was simply thriving on the thrill of the competition and he surged forward to establish an outright lead with 200m left to run.

Having gained the upper hand all Rock Classic had to do then was to go the line well enough to keep the game challenge of Set For Fame, who was finishing well hard along the inside rail, at bay to secure a convincing victory. That he did, beating the Peter Moody runner home by 1.30 lengths.

Linton finished well enough to claim third spot. The grey, who had won his last two starts, sat at the back of the field until the turn where he cornered some three lengths behind the eventual winner Rock Classic.

That became a four length chase when Rock Classic stole another length early in the straight and, although Linton did respond to the challenge by getting the margin between himself and Rock Classic down the two lengths at the line, he was never in a position to seriously threaten the result.

His time will come on another day.

WINNER FEEDBACK
Trainer Bart Cummings: “He had a few problems. We resolved the problems ... figured out how to resolve them and the result’s been perfect.

“He developed a few problems which we’ve now corrected so he’s stepped up from the second rank.

“First of all he used to have his tongue over the bit. He didn’t like the tongue tie. We put a Norton bit on, that prevents them getting their tongue over the bit.

“We put blinkers on because the other day. He keeps looking at horses around him, inside or outside. If he’s outside he goes away from them. If he’s inside, he runs onto the fence and wouldn’t take the openings. The blinkers corrected that problem.

“Apart from that, the rest is easy.

“He’s a very, very good horse ... only just learning what to do and I think he’s got a good future.

“I’ll speak to the part owners. One used to be the Chief of Police in Melbourne. He bred the horse actually. I bought it and kept it because I just thought it was too good to let go.

“He’s only just learning what it’s all about and now we’ve resolved his little problems, he'll show you how good he can be.”

Jockey Michael Rodd: “It’s great to be teaming up with him (Bart Cummings) in these big races. You can never rule him out.

“This horse... he has always had some sort of ability. We thought it might be a little too soon for him, but he proved today that he was just too strong.

“Probably coming around the turn ... the 600m, I sort of kept looking behind me because I didn’t want him put in a pocket when the sprint went on, but I didn’t want to be there too early because I knew my bloke would get to the front and have a good look.

“Once we came around the turn and I pulled my way pass Denman I thought, I’ve just got to head for home and pin my ears back.

“Every time I eased up on him a little bit he’d slow up so I had to get stuck into him.”

“It was an outstanding win.”

“Yeah, it would have been probably three ... four years ago when Bart first put me on Swick. There have been countless winners in-between then and now ... the carnival days, the big days, you know ... that’s when we tend to hit it off.

“I’m just so blessed to be riding for, not only Bart, but with Mark Kavanagh as well, who sort of came through the Bart Cumming’s school. So, carnival time, I’m pretty well looked after.”

PRICES:
Rock Classic (18.00); Set For Fame (5.50), Linton (5.50).
Favourite (Denman): 1.50 - Finished fourth.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
K McEvoy (Denman) explained that the colt was a little fractious in the barriers and it subsequently jumped away awkwardly, however, he was able to improve his position without over-taxing the horse.

He added that once he gained a position outside the leader, Guru Bob (NZ), his mount did not settle like it normally does and in his opinion was the reason Denman failed to finish the race off.

A veterinary report post race revealed Denman was suffering from the thumps and making a respiratory noise, and recommended an endoscopic examination be undertaken. A post race swab was taken for analysis.

PACEGETTERS FEEDBACK:
Jockey Luke Nolan (Set For Fame - finished second): “The day Denman doesn’t quicken, I’m stuck on his tail. I was probably just happy to roll into it, thinking I was going to be on the back of him. But no sooner had I done that, he went nowhere and I had to come to his inside. It was probably not inferior ground, but I didn’t get my chance to sort of roll into it nicely.”

Jockey Nicholas Hall (Linton - finished third): “I thought I would just let it unfold. Probably would have hoped for a little more tempo and a sort of gradual increase into the race, but they sort of sprinted. Through rawness he came off the bridle and lost a few lengths at the turn. I’d say he’d be better next time.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy (Denman - finished fourth): “He just put his head down as the gates opened. It wasn’t too much of an issue. He showed enough speed to get into a handy spot. Guru Bob just went a bit steady when we got there. I wanted to sit second. My one might have just over-raced a little bit which told on his finishing effort.

“In hindsight, I wish I had of led. I know that might sound crazy, but he might have relaxed a bit better. Guru Bob wasn’t towing me along and taking me into the race at the 600m so I had to let him stride into it a little bit. So, yeah ... in hindsight I would have liked to have led. I’m sure the team is going to stick to seven furlongs or six furlongs from now on.”

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