Rocha Earns Oaks Start

1st November 2008

Champion sire Encosta de Lago featured on Derby Day with VRC Oaks contender Rocha (3f Encosta de Lago x Larrocha, by Danehill) , who raced handy before finding the line strongly to break her maiden with a win in the Group Two VRC Wakeful Stakes over 2000 metres.

Placed twice previously, the Guy Walter trained filly has had little luck in recent starts and did a good job to defeat smart type Miss Scarlatti.

“She’s got Samantha Miss to contend with (in the Oaks) but providing she pulls up well she’ll be there,” Walter said.

Raced by New Zealand based breeder Terry Jarvis, Rocha (pictured as a yearling) was purchased by Michael Otto Bloodstock for $400,000 from the Swettenham Stud draft at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

If ever a filly was bred to be an Oaks filly then Rocha is surely it being the first foal of Group One SAJC South Australian Oaks winner Larrocha.

A daughter of champion sire Danehill, Larrocha is a full sister to Group One VRC Victoria Derby winner Blackfriars as well as stakes-winners Manton, Waterford Road and Lions Gate.

Larrocha was sold as part of the Swettenham Stud Dispersal earlier this year secured by Tom Magnier for $1,375,000 at the Inglis Broodmare Sale and produced a full sister to Rocha on September 28.