Gold Coast owner-breeder, Murray Cole, reckons he will be more than happy if Forever Rocking is half as good as her mother.
The 3-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven filly is the oldest of three foals out of the 2007 wonder mare, Forever Gold.
That daughter of Famous Forever and Making Gold was a multiple Group winning mare, who won 42 of her 92 starts ($700,593) between March 2010 and October 2015.
The Group One Quensland Oaks winner and Triad 2yo champion was owned and bred by Cole and his long-time friend and business partner, Beau Watson.
They also own and bred Forever Rocking. Kylie Rasmussen did the driving behind Forever Gold, and her partner Darren Weeks did the training. They also have Forever Rocking.
In fact, Rasmussen has a lot of time for Forever Rocking, but isn’t rushing the stunning bay. Cole said he was delighted with the way the filly was gradually progressing.
“She won well at the Redcliffe Trials last Wednesday and was nominated for race seven on the same track tomorrow (Thursday), but as a precautionary measure Kylie has scratched her.
“There’s nothing wrong with her, but Kylie is a patient trainer and wants to do what’s best for the horse in the long-term. She is talented, but said not to expect too much to soon,” Cole said.
Forever Rocking and Rasmussen drew two on Wednesday and sat in the trail behind runner-up Maywyns Sassy One. Then in the lane she cruised along the passing lane to win untouched by 3.1 metres.
The gifted filly paced the 1,780m mobile in 2:16.1 (2:03 even). He sectionals were 32.2, 32.0, 30.4, and 29.4.
“I’m not too perturbed that’s she’s not lining up on Thursday. Patience is the key with young horses. I wouldn’t mind if the horse that drew oned outside Forever Rocking (3) won that race.
“Beau and I bred him too. He’s (Makinmefeelgood) is from the same family. He’s by Mr Feelgood and is Forever Gold’s little half-brother.
“I’d be rapt to see him win his first race for his owner and trainer, Kevin Joiner. He’s a good bloke who does a lot for the industry. The horse can win too, because he was a nice second at Redcliffe last Friday,” Cole said.
Cole also bred Forever Gold’s dam – the unraced 2001 Bookmaker mare, Making Gold.
“I bought Making Gold’s dam Abbe Gold (by Fake Left). Making Gold was her first foal, and she only left one other foal – a 2003 unraced Ball And Chain filly named Channelling Gold. The broodmare then died when she was in foal to Christian Cullen in 2004,” Cole said.
The 57-year-old businessman, who owns a curb and channelling company (gutters for roads) with Watson, said Forever Gold was the “breeding bargain of the century”.
“Her service fee to Forever Famous was just $1,500. I wish I could have said the same about her two older sisters (Medium Strip and Layback Cullen) who were served by Presidential Ball and Christian Cullen. They both cost a fortune – and did nothing.”
Forever Rocking has two younger brothers – both by Captain Treacherous.
“The 2-year-old colt was sold to Tim and Anthony Butt at this year’s APG sale in Brisbane. He was the sales topper and went for $55,000.
“The yearling will go to the same sale next year,” Cole said.
Cole has been breeding standardbreds since 1992. Forever Gold is easily the best racehorse he has bred.
She was two, three, and four-year-old filly and Mare-of-the-Year.
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