Ken Casellas | Photo: Pacepix
Eight-year-old Rockaball is still one of the State’s most exciting sit-sprinters, and he revealed his characteristic finishing brilliance when he charged home, out five wide, from a seemingly impossible eighth position at the 400m to snatch victory in the $19,000 Garrard’s Horse And Hound Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Making his third appearance after a four-month absence, Rockaball was a $11.90 chance from barrier four, and Micheal Ferguson restrained him at the start while $20 chance Firerockfireroll was the fastest to begin from barrier five and was able to stroll through the lead time in 38.8sec. and opening quarter in 31.3sec.
The $3 favourite Henrik Larsson was beaten for early speed from the No. 1 barrier, and he raced three back on the pegs before getting clear in the final stages and finishing solidly into sixth place.
Cloud Nine ($9) enjoyed a perfect passage in the one-out, one-back position, and after a third quarter of 27.9sec. he ran home strongly to hit the front 20m from the post, with a final 400m in 28.8sec.
Rockaball, a gelding by American sire Rock N Roll Heaven, is the first foal out of Shezaball, who raced 30 times for eight wins, eight placings and stakes of $57,320. He won at two of his 12 New Zealand starts before being sold to Oakford trainer Caris Hamilton-Smith for $40,000 landed in WA in September 2018.
The 31-year-old Hamilton-Smith races Rockaball in partnership with her father Geordie and uncle Lindsay Hamilton-Smith, and the veteran pacer has earned $127,888 for his new connections from 12 wins and eight placings from 47 WA appearances.
His win completed an excellent week for Caris Hamilton-Smith and the 26-year-old Ferguson, who combined to win a race with The Swindler at Narrogin the previous Saturday night.
Interestingly, Cold Chisel, a half-brother to Rockaball, won the Group 2 Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings at Alexandra Park in March this year.