Rock On (NZ) Claims St Leger

Select Sale graduate Rock On (NZ) (Road To Rock) put himself on the road towards some of New Zealand’s biggest staying races with an impressive victory in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Lincoln Farms New Zealand St Leger (2500m) at Trentham.

The gelding’s trainer Gary Vile won the same race last year with Jacksstar (NZ) (Zed), who went on to win the Group 3 Manawatu Cup and place in the Group 1 Auckland Cup, Group 3 Wellington Cup and Listed Marton Cup.

“We’d like to follow a similar path with this horse as we did with Jacksstar,” Vile said. “We’ll probably go to the Hawke’s Bay Cup next.”

Rock On, who cost just $70,000 when Wellfield Lodge sent him through the Karaka sale ring in the 2014 Select Sale, showcased his staying credentials in his impressive St Leger performance.

Ridden by Jonathan Riddell, he came from towards the back of the15-horse field, switching back to the inside after failing to secure a run towards the outside of the track. He burst through near the running rail and raced to victory by three-quarters of a length.

“He came up against a good field here today and he really showed his worth,” Vile said.

Rock On was bred by Wellfield director Bill Gleeson in partnership with Tanya Goss and is out of the Group 3-winning mare St Jessie (Jetball). Rock On is raced by Gleeson, Vile, R Drummond, AC Macdonald and AJ Vincent.

Rock On has now had 20 starts for four wins, six placings and almost $90,000 in stakes.

A share in Rock On’s sire Road To Rock is also for sale on gavelhouse.com with the current bid sitting at $1600.