Danroad’s Gr.1 ambassador Rockdale (NZ) was back in full flight at Doomben on Saturday. Dictating terms throughout, Rockdale (NZ) was back to his best on the heavy underfoot conditions, leading home the field in the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2020m) to score by a ½ length for jockey Damian Browne.
Trained by John Morrissey, Rockdale (NZ) achieved Gr.1 acclaim at this time last year as a 2YO in the Gr.1 TJ Smith Classic (1600m) and will look to garner his resume with a second Gr.1 in the pending Queensland Derby.
Bred by Gary Bennett, Garry Cossey, Donna Logan & Robert Sutherland, Rockdale (NZ) is the first foal out of the now deceased mare Komplete Kaos – a Desert Sun mare that enjoyed four wins on the track and multiple stakes placings.
Retired to Highview stud in 2004, Rockdale’s Danehill sire Danroad (AUS) was a high-class two-year-old who notched up four wins in succession as a juvenile, including the Gr. 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1200m) at Trentham and the Listed Matamata Slipper Stakes. With A$532,750 banked, Rockdale has proven an astute purchase for his trainer, who went to NZ$135,000 to secure him at the 2007 Ready To Run Sale of 2YO’s. This was in fact the second time the three-time winner had been through Karaka’s Sales complex. Earlier that year at the Select Yearling Sale Rockdale was sold to Phil Cataldo Bloodstock for NZ$55,000.
Article courtesty of NZTM
