Six-year-old Rock Me Over is proving to be one of the State’s greatest iron horses, who at Gloucester Park on Friday night celebrated his 38th start in the past 42 weeks with his 22nd victory in his 130-start career.
Serpentine trainer Matt Scott, who owns Rock Me Over in partnership with Tony Maguire and his son Ian, said that the WA-bred gelding was enjoying his latest 38-start campaign, and that he ranked as probably the most consistent pacer he has prepared.
“He has been racing week-in and week-out since last July and is very sound,” Scott said. “And he will continue to poke around. His work has been really good, and on Wednesday he beat Qtown Rip Roaring by three lengths.
“Qtown Rip Roaring ran second tonight (beaten a head by Space Junk) and the two horses share a paddock and get on very well.”
Scott said that Rock Me Over ranked alongside Always Arjay and Jaxon Fella as the most consistent pacers he has trained. Always Arjay won 16 times for Scott, including seven metropolitan-class victories, while Jaxon Fella’s 13 wins for Scott included eight in city-class company.
Rock Me Over is proving a marvellous bargain for Scott and the Maguire family, who bought him for $6000 just over two years ago. The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding has had 84 starts for his new owners for 11 wins, 17 seconds and 15 thirds for stakes of $198,412. Rock Me Over’s career record now stands at 130 starts for 22 wins, 45 placings and stakes of $323,966.
Tony Maguire is thrilled at Rock Me Over’s continuing success and he has purchased Gee Smith, a four-year-old Sportswriter gelding who has raced 23 times in Victoria for four wins and three placings.
“Gee Smith has been here for about five weeks and he is ready to make his WA debut in the next week or two,” said Scott.
Rock Me Over was the second fancy at $4.10 in Friday night’s event, the Skyharness Pace, in which he was driven confidently by Shannon Suvaljko. Rock Me Over started from the No. 1 barrier and led for the first 60m before $81 outsider Talkerup began speedily from the No. 9 barrier charged to the front.
Emily Suvaljko then surrendered the lead to Rock Me Over about 250m later, giving the veteran mare an ideal trail behind the pacemaker. Talkerup finished solidly to be second behind Rock Me Over, who rated 1.57.8 over the 2536m trip in which the final 800m was covered in 56.9sec.
by Ken Casellas