Roc de Bank returns to scale at Te Rapa
Photo: Trish Dunell
Trainer Chris Wood was in good spirits as he navigated his way around his local golf course on Sunday after adding to a recent run of good results with progressive galloper Roc de Bank a day earlier.
The four-year-old Roc de Cambes gelding made it career win number 5 and third at Te Rapa when he led for the length of the long run home to claim the Ebbett Toyota 1600. Handled skilfully by three kilogram claiming apprentice Darren Danis, the gelding bounced nicely from the outside barrier to take up the running beside the well fancied Ali Baba during the early stages of the contest.
Danis took his charge to a clear lead as the field made the bend into the home straight and defied his challengers to run him down from that point. Despite drifting to the middle of the track Roc de Bank kept up a powerful gallop to score by half a length from Keep On Coming and The Kipling Girl who both charged home out wide in a blanket finish to the contest.
Wood was delighted with the win although his plans for the gelding won't see him step out much over the winter months.
"He's a pretty handy horse and has fashioned a good record at Te Rapa," he said.
"He likes a little cut in the track but isn't a true winter galloper so the track that he struck on Saturday was perfect for him.
"At this stage, we might find one more for him somewhere and then he can have a break before we bring him back for the spring."
Bred by Curraghmore, Roc de Bank is the first foal out of the multiple race winning Bachelor Duke mare Flower Girl. She has now produced two winners from two named foals, the other being Touch of Silver (Guillotine) who won at Ellerslie in April. She has also produced a two-year-old Super Easy filly, yearling Rip Van Winkle filly and Sacred Falls weanling filly and she is currently in foal to Mongolian Khan.
Roc de Bank was purchased by Chris Wood out of Suncroft Bloodstock's 2014 NZB Festival Yearling Sale draft for $32,000. – NZ Racing Desk
The four-year-old Roc de Cambes gelding made it career win number 5 and third at Te Rapa when he led for the length of the long run home to claim the Ebbett Toyota 1600. Handled skilfully by three kilogram claiming apprentice Darren Danis, the gelding bounced nicely from the outside barrier to take up the running beside the well fancied Ali Baba during the early stages of the contest.
Danis took his charge to a clear lead as the field made the bend into the home straight and defied his challengers to run him down from that point. Despite drifting to the middle of the track Roc de Bank kept up a powerful gallop to score by half a length from Keep On Coming and The Kipling Girl who both charged home out wide in a blanket finish to the contest.
Wood was delighted with the win although his plans for the gelding won't see him step out much over the winter months.
"He's a pretty handy horse and has fashioned a good record at Te Rapa," he said.
"He likes a little cut in the track but isn't a true winter galloper so the track that he struck on Saturday was perfect for him.
"At this stage, we might find one more for him somewhere and then he can have a break before we bring him back for the spring."
Bred by Curraghmore, Roc de Bank is the first foal out of the multiple race winning Bachelor Duke mare Flower Girl. She has now produced two winners from two named foals, the other being Touch of Silver (Guillotine) who won at Ellerslie in April. She has also produced a two-year-old Super Easy filly, yearling Rip Van Winkle filly and Sacred Falls weanling filly and she is currently in foal to Mongolian Khan.
Roc de Bank was purchased by Chris Wood out of Suncroft Bloodstock's 2014 NZB Festival Yearling Sale draft for $32,000. – NZ Racing Desk
