Group 1 Success For Danroad

Monday, 9 June 2008


Karaka sales graduate Rockdale (NZ) (Danroad x Komplete Kaos, by Desert Sun) has 
stopped Fravashi's winning streak in its tracks with an all-the-way win in the Group 1 A$500,000 TJ Smith (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Monday afternoon. 

Rockdale had finished twice in his previous three starts with one of those runner-up placings being behind Fravashi in the Group 2 QTC Sires' Produce Stakes last weekend.

In Monday's race the exciting son of Danroad went to the lead early and, despite a bold chase by Fravashi and Baci Amore in the closing stages, he held on to his lead at the post.

Rockdale was purchased by his trainer, astute Gold Coast trainer John Morrisey (pictured left), at the burgeoning New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale for $135,000. The colt is now raced by Gundaroo Stud. "He was a big strong horse and you could tell he could just run," Morrisey said about watching the horse breeze-up last year.

 

Rockdale is from the stakes placed Desert Sun mare Komplete Kaos, a winner of four races and twice Group placed. Although Rockdale had not won in his previous three starts, Morrisey said he had been unlucky." He has finished second twice and probably could have won both,'' he said.

Rockdale is the first New Zealand-bred horse to win the TJ Smith since Darci Brahma's victory in 2005. He brings New Zealand's tally of Group 1 winning 

graduates to 18 for the season. 

Rockdale's sire, Danroad, has had four individual winners from just ten starters. A fast son of Danehill, he was a six-time winner, recording a Group 2 win at two as well as being runner-up at Gr. 1 level in the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes, and was the second leading colt on the 2001 New Zealand Two-Year-Old Free Handicaps. Danroad  stands alongside Align and Kashani at Brent & Louise Gillovic's Highview Stud. 

Align       NZ$10,000+gst 

Danroad   NZ$6,000+gst 

Kashani    NZ$3,000+gst