All-out assault from Rock ‘n’ Pop 3Y0
Promising Rock ‘n’ Pop three-year-old Autumn Assault has returned in a blaze of glory at Kranji.
The David Kok-trained three-year-old was a winner last season and resumed with a dominant victory over 1100m on Sunday.
“I knew he would run well today, but I was a bit worried he did not have a shoe on in front,” Kop said.
“He lost it a few times and I had to cement it instead, but he seems to have handled that well.
“The horse came back in good shape after the two-year-old races.
“He will be my three-year-old horse next year, but before that, I will be aiming him at the Saas Fee Stakes at the end of the year.
The Gr.3 Saas Fee Stakes (1200m) is a race open exclusively to three-year-olds for the first time this year and will be run on November 9.
Autumn Assault was purchased at the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka for $45,000.
His dam is the Encosta de Lago mare Summer Daze hails from the family of the Gr.1 Goodwood Handicap winner Marstic.
Pure Alpha delivers again as Ardrossan continues to rise
Ardrossan gelding Pure Alpha led throughout to win by 1.29 lengths at Eagle Farm for owner Ozzie Kheir, taking his earnings past $300,000. The result caps a stellar run for sire Ardrossan, whose yearlings fetched up to $450,000 this year on strong Hong Kong form.
Read More
The Corner with Garry Chittick
It is difficult to maintain momentum when sitting in judgment of racing’s governance. After all, I get no pleasure in searching for non-credible decisions, but one is perpetually bewildered by the rationale behind many of the positions that make little sense.
Read More