ROCKY TIMES returned to racing with a sensational win in a strong class two handicap over 1100 metres at Tattersall’s Park in Hobart today (Sunday).
With premiership-winning jockey Brendon McCoull in the saddle, Rocky Times came from last on the home turn to score in the last few strides over Hoping and Copper Rocks.
It was a sensational effort and one that stamps the gelding as definitely one to follow in the coming months.
The four-year-old gelding’s trainer Jason Clifford hailed the son of Ladoni as a potential top liner very early in his career.
In fact it was after he ran fifth and last on debut in a 2YO race in Launceston that he declared the gelding was a future star.
He was spelled after his debut effort and next preparation he won two in succession at Devonport before finishing fourth in a strong class two race at the same venue in April, after which he was spelled.
Jockey Brendon McCoull was thrilled with the gelding’s effort.
“We were long way back at the home turn but they’d gone hard so I thought we were a chance because he really started to motor 200 metres out,” McCoull said.
The gelding is owned and raced by Nyal and Michelle Merdivenci who also own the third-placed Copper Rocks that is prepared by Tammy Mollross.
Rocky Times was the second leg of a winning double for Clifford who also prepared Milochello to win the Brendon McCoull Handicap (open) handicap with Milochello.
Milochello raced outside of the leader Old Hands but made light of the task to score by a short-head from the fast-finishing With Decorum that lugged a massive 60.5kg – click here .