Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
The patience of Bunbury trainer Bob Mellsop was rewarded when his six-year-old pacer Apollo Rock scored an impressive all-the-way victory in the 2130m Etch Coatings Mobile Sandblasting Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Apollo Rock was reappearing at city headquarters after Mellsop had raced the gelding on South West tracks at his previous nine starts as part of his development.
Apollo Rock drew perfectly at barrier one and reinsman Kyle Harper made every post a winner by rating him perfectly in front.
Apollo Rock, the $3.20 favourite, was not extended in winning by a length from $4.60 chance Sweet Maddison, who ran home fast after trailing the leader all the way.
“Bob does a good job with his team,” said Harper. “Apollo Rock hasn’t had much luck with barrier draws, but finally he got one, and he showed what he is made of. He won pretty comfortably, with the plugs still in.
“This was probably a drop in grade from what he has been racing in. He has run quicker times, but he did just what he had to.”
Apollo Rock, who was placed twice from eight starts in New South Wales and had three wins and 11 placings from 29 Victorian starts. His 31 WA starts have produced four wins and 12 placings. He is by American sire Pet Rock and is out of the Troublemaker mare Wicker Maker, who managed two wins from 49 starts.