Stakes Next for Impressive El Roca Filly

Media Release - Tuesday January 3

On a day where the Te Akau Racing tangerine and blue colours played a prominent role in most results it was promising filly Romancing The Moon that provided one of the highlights.

Romancing The Moon bounces back to winning form at Matamata Photo Credit: Trish Dunell

The Mark Walker-trained three-year-old was having her first start since finishing fourth behind the unbeaten Legarto in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

Punters were convinced that quality would prevail in the rating 65 1200m contest, sending the daughter of El Roca out a $1.90 favourite in the hands of Opie Bosson.

The champion hoop hardly had to move a muscle as the filly landed right on the speed after beginning well and then dashed away in the run home to defeat stablemates Image Of You and Hayate.

“She has a lot quality about her and she has freshened up nicely since she came home from Riccarton,” Walker said.

Advertisement

“I actually think she is better with some cut in the track but the facilities and tracks here at Matamata are presented to such a high quality that it definitely helps them out even when it is a little firmer.

“The beauty of the race today is that she is already at home having her dinner without all the travel that can take it out of them, so I would expect she will bounce through the effort well.

“It also helps when David (Ellis) is out there buying this type of horse as it makes my job so much easier.

“I have always said that the races are won and lost at the sale ring door and we’re lucky to have David, Karyn and all the staff here who operate with such a passion and dedication in what they do.”

While Romancing The Moon holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on March 18, it is a more immediate target at the venue that is on Walker’s radar.

“She will likely go to the Wellington Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m) next,” he said.

“She does hold a nomination for the Levin Classic but I think she would need a wet track to have her best opportunity in the race.

“You never know with the weather though and she is just so honest and gives her all each time, which means she is always in with a shout.”

The win was the fourth for Walker on the ten-race card and he added another when Belle Of The Ball roared home from well back to capture the Coastwood Homes Lockwood Thames Cup (1600m) in the hands of Bosson, who picked up a winning treble on the day. Walker’s five-timer brought his seasonal tally to 95.

Romancing The Moon is a daughter of well performed El Hermano mare Underthemoonlight who won six races including the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m), the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) and the Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m) while also being placed in the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m).

She was purchased by Te Akau Racing boss David Ellis for $50,000 out of the Westbury Stud Book 1 draft at Karaka in 2021.

Kilgravin Lodge will offer a half brother by Ardrossan as Lot 1065 during the Book 2 sale at Karaka later this month. – NZ Racing Desk

 

Visit the profile page for El Roca

El Roca in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Flair (Bm65) 1200m

Matamata Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:10.28
1
Romancing The Moon
- 4f El Roca (AUS) x Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano (NZ))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: O P Bosson 58.5
2
2.8
Image Of You
- 6m Pins (AUS) x Exactly Like You (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: M J Mc Nab 58.5
3
4.6
Hayate
- 5m Maurice (JPN) x Vamoose (JPN) (Admire Moon (JPN))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: J Kamaruddin 57
4
4.8
Roca Fundeeda
- 5m Road To Rock (AUS) x Te Toro Lass (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: D Miller & M Stevens Rdr: C R Barnes 57
5
5.6
Polly Plum
- 5m Xtravagant (NZ) x Herstory (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: Jake Bayliss 57.5
6
5.8
Paradigm Shift
- 9g Showcasing (GB) x Bow Lane (NZ) (Russian Hero (NZ))
Tnr: S T Wenn Rdr: C E Lammas 59
7
6.0
Symphony Of Love
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Centreofattraction (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Ms J K Mahoney Rdr: M Hashizume 55.5
8
6.8
Alby Park
- 6g Ocean Park (NZ) x Lady Alberton (NZ) (Golan (IRE))
Tnr: G T Hennessy Rdr: T D Thornton 58.5
9
8.1
Shez Shamus
- 4f Shamus Award (AUS) x Waterberg (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: P W Lock Rdr: V A Colgan 56
10
9.2
Dancing Sands
- 5m Contributer (IRE) x Tonic (NZ) (Blues Traveller (IRE))
Tnr: Peter & Shaun McKay Rdr: K Asano 54.5
11
10.2
Elounda
- 5m Contributer (IRE) x Nomisma (NZ) (Thorn Park (AUS))
Tnr: M W Walker Rdr: C J Grylls 57.5
More Reading...
Derby Dreaming, Who is Bred to Stay?
The Group I VRC Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday is worth a whopping $2 million and the testing trip of 2500m means a lot of horses are not going to see it out strongly and this looks a competitive year with a Group I winner coming down from Sydney that has a picket fence next to his name and plenty of locals to take him on, so let’s see what the pedigrees have to say.
Flightline and Cogburn Shares Highlight Inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale
Stallion shares in Horse of the Year and exciting young sire Flightline and also Widden Stud's new shuttle prospect Cogburn changed hands at the inaugural Keeneland Championship Sale.
Strong Trade Continues at Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale
Strong trade continued on the fourth day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale with an interesting horse set to join the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald stable as turnover has already soared to be the second highest in the sale’s history with the fifth and final session still to come. 
More Aussie Purchases at Tattersalls Autumn HIT Sale Day 3
Strong trade continued on the third day of the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale headed by the two-year-old LA BELLOTA at 425,000 guineas with eight lots realising 200,000 guineas or more and a clearance rate above 90%.
Kia Ora-bred graduates make an impression in Hong Kong
Kia Ora Stud had reason to celebrate on Thursday 31 October after waking up to news of two graduates’ success in Hong Kong overnight.
Golden Eagle – Let’s Try and Find the Winner
The $10million ATC Golden Eagle (1500m) is a race that has gone from strength to strength since being first run in 2019, so we’ve taken a look at what’s happened so far in our quest to narrow the 20 strong field in search of this year’s winner.
Invincible Spirit Retired at Age 27
The Irish National Stud has announced the retirement of Invincible Spirit, the sire of 22 individual Group I winners worldwide, including leading European sire Kingman, and also in Australia he has had a profound influence as the sire of our reigning champion sire I Am Invincible.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 31
Here is the full list of 35 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Black Type Win for El Roca Filly Romancing the Moon
A confidence-boosting first stakes victory in Saturday’s Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui has laid the platform for proven black-type performer Romancing The Moon to embark on a Group One mission later this month.
G1 Winner for El Roca - Romancing the Moon wins Levin Classic
The decision to move the Gr.1 Gee & Hickton Funeral Directors Levin Classic (1600m) to March has worked wonders for Te Akau Racing, who dominated the race for the second year in a row at Trentham on Saturday – headed by an off-the-canvas victory by Romancing The Moon.