Smart Maiden Winner for Rock

29th October 2008

Rock of Gibraltar featured with a smart maiden winner at Canterbury in Zarock (3f Rock of Gibraltar x Zapeace, by Zabeel) , while his four year-old son Imvula (4h Rock of Gibraltar x African Rain, by Woodman) added to the sire's recent frustrating run of stakes-place getters when running second to Mandela in the Listed Werribee Cup.

Having her second race start the Gary Portelli trained Zarock, overcame her inexperience to lead throughout and win the 1200 metre for fillies.

She looked a sure thing when she drew away by four lengths in the closing stages of her Kembla debut on October 11, but the debutante balked at the shadow of some signage close to the post and was nabbed by Eredita on the line.

Zarock raced greenly again today by shifting dramatically to the centre of the track in the final 50m, but she atoned by shaking off maiden status with an all-the-way win to score by the best part of a length.

Portelli is not yet sure what to make of the versatile youngster who displayed a surprising turn of foot for a filly that was initially considered a staying prospect.

“She’s out of a staying-bred mare so we’re hoping she’ll get over a bit of ground in future,” Portelli said.

“But at the moment it looks like we’ve got a sprinter, but if she can harness that speed she’s got over more ground, we could have a bit of fun with her.”

Retained to race by her breeder, Zarock is by former champion racehorse Rock of Gibraltar from the Group Three winning mare Zapeace.