Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Bunbury trainer Simone Strachan declared her gratitude to retired Yornup businessman Peter Bloxsome after Dylan Egerton-Green had driven Arionrock to a decisive all-the-way win in the Westside Auto Cars Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Earlier in the week Bloxsome gave Mrs Strachan and her husband Paul a half share in four-year-old Arionrock, who ended a losing sequence of 18, including nine seconds and two thirds.
“Peter is such a generous and kind person,” said Mrs Strachan, who was delighted with Arionrock’s striking performance as the $2 favourite on Friday night when he began from the No. 1 barrier, set the pace and won by a length and a half from $23 chance Sound Wave, rating 1.57.5 after dashing over the final 800m in 56.6sec.
“Arionrock was one-dimensional as a two and three-year-old and we had to race him with a sit,” said Mrs Strachan. “He has improved with age and is now a bit stronger.”
Arionrock was purchased by Bloxsome for $21,000 at the 2022 APG Perth yearling sale, and he now has had 53 starts for seven wins, 16 placings and $93,268.
Arionrock is by American sire Rock n Roll World and is the ninth foal out of Albert Albert mare Red Hot Mumma, who was retired after being unplaced at her four starts as a three-year-old in New South Wales in August 2006.