Punters who had supported Pushbutton Rock in the 2130m Free Entry Boxing Day Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night had their hearts in their mouths when the well-fancied $5.10 chance broke into a gallop in the score-up.
But, fortunately, Gary Hall jnr, who was driving Pushbutton Rock for the first time, was able to get the four-year-old mare back into her pacing gait and she was able to get straight to the front and then hold off a determined early challenge from $19 chance My Copy.
Pushbutton Rock was then able to coast through the lead time in 37.7sec. and run the opening quarters comfortably in 30.6sec. and 30.3sec. before dashing over the final 400m sections in 27.6sec. and 28.7sec. and winning by 2m from the well-supported $4.80 chance Northview Dance, who fought on gamely after racing in the breeze.
Pushbutton Rock, a four-year-old by American sire Rock N Roll World, bred and owned by Bob Fowler, has been a handy performer who has earned $112,914 from ten wins and 29 placings. She was having her fourth run for Ravenswood trainer Nathan Turvey and her two wins from those starts indicate further successes.
She is the eleventh and last foal out of the New South Wales-bred Village Jasper mare Arkareena, who earned $130,305 from her 88 starts in Queensland which produced 30 wins and 24 placings.
Arkareena is best known as the dam of Monarkmac, a McArdle gelding who had 45 different drivers during his 11-year career of 342 starts for 35 wins and 81 placings for stakes of $313,002. He won 24 races in Queensland, two in New South Wales and nine in Tasmania.
Pushbutton Rock gave Hall the first leg of a driving treble. Later in the night he trained and drove Better Eclipse and Sweet Coco, who were most impressive with their wins.
Sweet Coco, a five-year-old mare, was a $3.10 chance from the outside barrier in the field of seven in the 1730m New Year’s Eve at Gloucester Park Pace.
Hall restrained Sweet Coco back to the rear and she was still last when Hall sent her forward with a sparkling three-wide burst with 700m to travel. She sprinted strongly with final 400m sections of 28.2sec. and 28sec. when she took the lead 400m from home and won by 5m from the $2 favourite and pacemaker Quinton.
“Swet Coco is her own worst enemy at times, but when she gets it right, she has the motor to go with the best,” said Hall. “It’s never easy coming from last over 1730m when you have the main dangers in front and in the breeze.”
