by Ken Casellas
Four-year-old Ima Rocknroll Legend managed just two wins from 17 starts in New Zealand, but he has bright prospects of making a successful Australian debut when he contests the Gannon’s Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Now trained by Gary Hall sen., Ima Rocknroll Legend will start from barrier five on the front line and his form in New Zealand suggests that he will prove mighty hard to beat.
He was successful at his most recent appearance when he rated 1.59.4 over 2200m at Cambridge on January 6. He raced wide early and then in the breeze before getting to the front after 500m. He immediately gained the sit behind the pacemaker Smiley Sophie, and making use of the sprint lane he charged to the front 100m from the post and won easily from that pacer, with a final quarter in 28.2sec.
His previous win was six starts earlier when he rated 1.58 over 2600m at Addington. He is related to former top-flight pacer The Unicorn (94 starts for 29 wins, 32 placings and stakes of $488,524) and is a half-brother to Twist And Shout and Our Jerry Lee..
Twist And Shot earned $133,265 from his five wins and 16 placings from 39 starts before being retired. She is the dam of Hall’s smart four-year-old Harry Hoo, whose 36 starts have produced ten wins, nine placings and stakes of $86,892. Our Jerry Lee has won five races in New Zealand and ten in Western Australia for earnings of $92,499.
Hardest for Ima Rocknroll Legend to beat is likely to be the polemarker Bad Round, who is racing with great heart for Wanneroo trainer Debbie Padberg. Shannon Suvaljko appears certain to set the pace in a strong bid for victory.
Bad Round started from barrier four and dashed to the front after 300m when an excellent second to Just Bet On Black over 2130m last Friday week. That followed an easy win at Kellerberrin and a strong-finishing third to Wimbaliri and Bettor Twisted.
Just Bet On Black will start from the coveted No. 1 barrier in the second heat of the Princi Butchers Pure Steel Pace and he should notch his sixth win in a row for trainer Colin Brown. Just Bet On Black will again be handled by Brown’s daughter Maddison, and they also have good prospects with the speedy Franco Rayner in the Choices Flooring Pace.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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