Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
A $6000 investment six years ago has turned into a $338,187 bonanza for Serpentine trainer Matt Scott and stable clients Tony Maguire and his son Ian.
That was the amount Scott and the Maguires paid for the WA-bred Rock Me Over, who is a seemingly indestructible pacing marvel who was a $16 chance when Aiden De Campo drove him to an easy victory in the $23,000 Vale Reg Luck Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Rock Me Over had won at eleven of his first 46 starts before he was sold, and he now has raced 194 times for his new owners for 18 wins, 34 seconds, 26 thirds and $338,187 in prizemoney. His overall record now stands at 240 starts for 29 wins and 73 placings for stakes of $465,852.
Small of stature, the ten-year-old Rock Me Over has not looked back since he resumed racing last April after a 12-month absence while he recovered from a damaged hind leg suspensory ligament received in a race in April 2023.
It is fitting that De Campo has driven Rock Me Over at his past three wins. Rock Me Over is the sixth foal out of Benjor Maddy Lombo, whose fifth foal Handsandwheels was an outstanding pacer who was retired with earnings of $707,393 from 29 wins and 33 placings from 102 starts. De Campo drove Handsandwheels in 24 of his victories.
Rock Me Over continues to reveal his strong competitive instincts which were on show as a two-year-old in 2017 when he finished a half-head second to Play The Boys in the Group 1 Sales Classic for colts and geldings, and second to the brilliant Jack Mac in the Group 1 Pearl Classic.
“Rock Me Over is a horse who always gives his all,” said De Campo. “Matt was pretty confident tonight when he said that he expected plenty of speed in the race and predicted that Rock Me Over would be right in it at the finish.
“They went hard early and Rock Me Over was able to go forward in the slow (second) quarter (31sec.).” Rock Me Over moved to fifth (three wide) at the bell before De Campo managed to get him into the one-out and one-back position in the back straight. The old gelding sprinted to the front 60m from the post, and he beat the $1.95 favourite Waverider by one and a half lengths.
Waverider raced three wide for the first circuit before getting to the breeze and finally taking the lead with 260m to travel. Sugar Apple ($21) led from barrier three and set a solid pace before fighting on gamely to finish third.