Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A flying start from barrier No. 5 proved the vital ingredient for Rockmyster’s win in the $23,000 Smooth FM On Digital Radio Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Rockmyster, an $11.70 chance, surprised punters and rival drivers when trainer-reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green got the five-year-old away with a sparkling burst of speed.
Rockmyster easily beat out the polemarker and $1.55 favourite Montana D J, who lost about eight lengths when he broke into gallop after about 20 metres.
Egerton-Green was able to get Rockmyster to relax and coast through the lead time in 38.2sec. and the opening 400m section in 31.1sec.
Solesseo Matuca ($7.50) raced in the breeze, and the $3.30 second favourite Lusaka raced in sixth position in the field of seven before Deni Roberts sent him forward, with a three wide burst 250m from home. Lusaka went five wide on the home turn and finished powerfully from fifth at the 100m to finish second, a head behind Rockmyster. Montana D J was at the rear all the way and finished sixth.
“Rockmyster has got really good gate speed but hasn’t been able to use it lately,” said Egerton-Green. “With Montana D J doing things wrong I was able to capitalise on this, and when Rockmyster leads he is hard to beat. And I think there is a bit of improvement in him.”
Rockmyster is by American stallion Rock N Roll Heaven and is the eleventh foal out of unraced Armbro Operative mare Operative Asset. Rockmyster, who won once from nine New Zealand starts, has earned $119,482 from 11 wins and eight placings from 38 starts.