Six-year-old Rockokoko has recovered from leg problems, and he gave a splendid performance to race without cover throughout before cruising to the front with about 370m to travel to score an easy victory in the 2130m Sunday Times Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
This was his first appearance after a 22-month absence, and he showed that, provided he remains sound, he will have a bright future for trainer-reinsman Aiden de Campo.
Rockokoko was the $1.90 favourite from barrier six, and de Campo was not concerned that he raced in the breeze outside the $3 second fancy Hi Suga Rush, even though he would have preferred to be the leader.
The third quarter was run in 28.1sec. before de Campo sent Rockokoko to the front soon after passing the 400m mark. He rated 1.56.4.
“He put a rough one in about the 700m, so I sat up on him to make sure everything was right,” said de Campo. “I’m not sure why he did that; maybe he brushed his knee. I nursed him around the last corner before asking him for an effort in the straight.
“I think that high speed is his best asset, and as long as he stays sound after his tendon injury I think he is good enough to run through the grades.”
Rockokoko began his career in WA where he raced seven times as a two-year-old in 2022 for one win (at Pinjarra) and four placings. He then had five starts in Queensland for one win and one placing and his 15 appearances in New South Wales produced three wins and six placings.
He is by American Ideal and is the tenth foal out of Safely Kept mare Elegant Eyes, who won once from seven starts as a two-year-old in 2005. Innocent Eyes, a full-sister to Elegant Eyes, was a star on the track, having raced 62 times for 18 wins, 17 placings and $421,875. Her four group 1 victories were the 2005 Victorian and Australian Oaks at Moonee Valley, the 2006 Chariots Of Fire at Harold Park and the 2006 Vicbred Super Series final for mares.
De Campo completed a training and driving double when he guided $5.60 chance Rajah Rocks to victory over He Is Talking ($4.60) and Cease To React ($1.90) in the STM Magazine Pace over 1730m.
Rajah Rocks was given a perfect trip by de Campo in the one-out and one-back position before the five-year-old finished solidly to get to the front with about 25m to travel. He rated 1.56.6.
Harness racing fans missed a chance to buy Rajah Rocks, who was advertised for sale for $12,000 earlier in the week. But there were no takers, and the $12,058 first stake took his career record to 46 starts for seven wins, 16 placings and $75,167 in stakes.
He is by Art Major and is the fourth foal out of unraced Sutter Hanover mare Gaetana Nicole, with Major Martini, a full-brother to Rajah Rocks, a star on the track before being retired with earnings of $322,483 from ten wins and seven placings from 20 starts.
Major Martini’s wins included the group 1 Sales Classic and the group 1 Westbred Classic as a two-year-old in 2019, as well as finishing a head second to Jaspervellabeach in the Golden Slipper. As a three-year-old he won two group 2 events, the Sales Classic and the Western Gateway, before finishing a neck second to Patronus Star in the WA Derby.
Lenora Jane, trained by Kim Prentice and driven by Mitch Miller, ended a losing sequence of 15 when she took full advantage of the No. 1 barrier and set the pace before winning the 2130m Play Magazine Pace.
“She used to pull fiercely in her races, and we have been trying to get her to relax,” said Miller. “And she is getting much better and she is almost push-button now.”
Lenora Jane, the $2.30 favourite, had a comfortable time early with a slow lead time of 37.8sec. and modest opening quarters of 30.5sec. and 30.4sec. before final sections of 29.1sec. and 29.6sec.
She beat $6 chance Loch Tay, who trailed her throughout and ran home solidly after getting clear in the closing stages.
