Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Victorian-bred pacer Rock Artist is making a late bid to gain a start in the $200,000 WA Derby on Friday week.
At his second appearance after a spell, Rock Artist gave a spirited frontrunning display to win the Western Gateway Consolation over 2356m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was the $2.10 favourite from the No. 1 barrier and after a moderate early pace he dashed over the final 400m sections in 28.2sec. and 28.6sec. to win from the $5 second fancy Soho Firestone.
When prepared by Victorian trainer Emma Stewart, Rock Artist raced twice at Launceston for two wins and six times in Victoria for one win and four seconds. His first six starts in Western Australia have resulted in two wins, two seconds and two fourths.
Trainer-reinsman Chris Voak purchased Rock Artist for $70,000 for a group of stable clients earlier this year with the main objective of contesting the WA Derby.
“I’ll back him up in a race for three-year-olds next Friday because he is still a bit underdone,” said Voak. “The plan has always been to run in the Derby, and that’s why we bought him. Clayton Tonkin has always had a high opinion of him.
“He made his case tonight and put himself in contention for a run in the Derby. He is not only a frontrunner and is a smart sit-sprinter.
“Rock Artist showed his potential with his run in a Group 2 event over 2240m at Melton 12 months ago when the final 400m was covered in 26sec. and he finished second, less than a length behind Petracca.”
Petracca has maintained that form and he won the Victoria Derby earlier this month, with that victory taking his career record to 14 starts for 11 wins and stakes of $310,178.
Rock Artist is closely related to Ideal Tyson, a winner of 22 races in WA and another 11 in America. He is by Yankee Rockstar and is the second foal out of Art Major mare Artistic Angel, who raced ten times for two wins, four placings and $19,220.