The
familiar colours of Dato Tan Chin Nam were in the winner's circle at Canterbury
on Wednesday, carried to victory by an unbeaten son of champion sire Fastnet
Rock.
Prepared by James Cummings, three year-old gelding Rockafella might be somewhat
of a late starter having only recently made his debut with a Wyong win on July
12, but patience may ultimately pay off for connections.
Stepping up into a Benchmark 67 event over 1100 metres against some handy three
year-olds, Rockafella proved up to the task, finding the line strongly to win over
Loverboy Charlie the full brother to Group I winner Peggy Jean.
The margin was half a neck, but with nearly four lengths back to the next horse
it was clear that the top two are nice horses in the making.
"It was a good effort to come here and show that sort of improvement from a
maiden win into smart midweek company," said James Cummings.
A $280,000 NZB Premier purchase from the Cambridge Stud draft for DGR
Thoroughbreds, Rockafella is the first winner for Group III winning Thorn Park
mare Glamorous Girl.
His Coolmore based sire Fastnet Rock is having his usual good season with
progeny earnings topping $9.6 million and 12 individual stakes-winners to his
credit.