Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh faces an uncertain future with the two-year-old,
who is Hong Kong-owned, but is keen to set the colt for a crack at the Gr.3
Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year's Day."He's managed by Bryce and Ginger Tankard and hopefully the horse can stay here and go on to bigger and better things," Marsh said.
Rocanto had looked exciting with two trials wins – one at the expense of the leading Listed Karaka Million hope Windborne – and he carried that form over to his raceday debut on Saturday to triumph in the Wentwood Grange Premier.
The short odds favourite sat outside the leader Halleloojah to the turn before lengthening stride to master the frontrunner 200 metres from home and drew out to score by a length.
"I'm very relieved, the pressure was on and everyone expected him to win," Marsh said.
"Halleloojah is a smart horse and had the ring craft on his side and my horse wobbled around the bend and he's still got a lot to learn – he's very exciting though and looked good in the straight."
Rocanto was ridden by the jockeys' premiership leader Danielle Johnson, who has
enjoyed an outstanding run this term for the Marsh stable.
"He's a progressive type and I've ridden some nice two-year-olds this season and he's definitely right up there with the best of them," she said.
The second winner from only four starters for his Little Avondale Stud-based sire Per Incanto, Rocanto is out of a half-sister to the dam of the Gr.1 TJ Smith Classic winner Reigning To Win. – NZ Racing Desk.
"He's a progressive type and I've ridden some nice two-year-olds this season and he's definitely right up there with the best of them," she said.
The second winner from only four starters for his Little Avondale Stud-based sire Per Incanto, Rocanto is out of a half-sister to the dam of the Gr.1 TJ Smith Classic winner Reigning To Win. – NZ Racing Desk.
