13 March 2018 | Graham Fischer
Talented trotting mare Rocknroll Baby displayed her recent maturity overcoming mid-race issues to score an all the way win in the Prince Of Wales Kapunda Trotters Cup (2610m).
Driver Jock Dunlop revealed the crupper used on the mare had broken with a lap to go seeing her gear go forward and putting him ill at ease.
“She had every excuse to go into a gallop when that happened,” Dunlop said.
“I was certainly on edge for the last lap, but the mare was in a good rhythm and stayed trotting. She did a great job.”
Rocknroll Baby ($1.60 fav) was well rated in front by Dunlop to score a five metre win from Bold Law ($13.60) which finished fast late with Truscott Law ($5), 1-1/2 metres away third.
Dunlop was able to get away with pedestrian quarters of 32.1 and 31.6 before letting the mare slide with 27.9 and 30.3 final sectionals and no horse was able to get close enough for Dunlop to have to try and shake her up.
It was Rocknroll Baby’s second Cup win in eight days having scored at Mount Gambier on the previous Saturday.
The mare will try to make it three Cups in a month by going for the $8000 Port Pirie Trotters Cup (2530m) on Saturday, March 24.
They add to the Gramel Trotters Cup and Hambeltonian Cup she collected earlier in the year.
Trainer Greg Norman has always sung the mare’s praises.
“She has only been trotting for just over 12 months,” Norman said. “She has had plenty of racing, and travelling, but has been getting better and better.
“Provided she pulls up okay, she will be off to Port Pirie.”
Norman wasn’t at Kapunda, he was in Melbourne picking up a new addition to the AB&T Cormack Racing stables.
“We paid $26,000 for a colt by Majestic Son out of the former star trotting mare Zesta.
“She was only small, but she could certainly trot. This colt is also very small, but he is built like a pocket battleship.”
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