New Stakes-Winner for Encosta

26th April 2008

Encosta de Lago posted his 12^th Australian stakes-winner this season at Royal Randwick on Saturday when Road to Rock (3c Encosta de Lago x Trewornan, by Midyan) opened his winning account with a stylish victory in the Listed AJC Carbine Club Stakes.

Placed second four times previously, Road to Rock was way overdue for a win and did the job with authority cruising up from fifth on the turn to defeat Rockwood (3g Rock of Gibraltar x Foxwood, by Centaine) by a length with Running to Win (3g Peintre Celebre x Secret Liaisons, by TV Heart Throb) in third place to give Coolmore based sires a trifecta in the 1600 metre event for three year-olds.

Trained by Anthony Cummings for a syndicate of seven owners, Road to Rock was purchased by Cummings for $100,000 from the draft of Willow Park Stud at the 2006 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

“It’s not a bad day to break your maiden,” Cummings said.

“He’d beaten himself a couple of times, he was a bit of a goose, but he’s a horse with a lot of talent.”

Cummings seems likely to back Road to Rock up into the Group Three AJC Frank Packer Plate next Saturday and may consider a trip to Brisbane for the winter carnival.

Bred in partnership by Dr Chris Rogers and Jason Abrahams, Road to Rock is the fourth foal of Trewornan (GB), a half-sister to French Group Three winner Central City by the Miswaki horse Midyan.

Road to Rock becomes the 51^st stakes-winner worldwide for Encosta de Lago, who is currently a commanding leader on the Australian general sires list by earnings.