Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Consistent four-year-old Robbie Rocket overcame a slight scare at the start before winning at his first appearance in a standing-start event, the 2503m Sky Racing Handicap at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This was the culmination of Byford trainer Ron Huston’s plan to race the Follow The Stars gelding in stands. “He has had three trials in stands over a six-month period and he was pretty safe in all of them,” said Huston, who races Robbie Rocket with his partner Vicki Lea.
“His latest trial, about three weeks ago, was really good, and I always thought that stands would be his go. He can’t be used out of the gate real hard in mobiles. Tonight, he shied at the tape at the start, with the tape pinging across and landing at his feet. Junior (Gary Hall Jnr) is a master, and he didn’t panic.”
Robbie Rocket veered out slightly and paced roughly for a couple of strides, but Hall was able to get him to settle and he was able to hold out an early challenge from Aussie Scooter, who shared favouritism at $2.60 with Robbie Rocket.
Robbie Rocket dashed over the final two 400m sections in 28.5sec. and 28.1sec. and won comfortably by 5m from Aussie Scooter. Robbie Rocket, whose dam Elite Angel raced 62 times for 12 wins, 14 placings and $128,702, has earned $107,582 from ten wins and 16 placings from 44 starts.