McGinty bred mare takes control

Globe Derby Park trainer Heather Stevens has an impressive strike rate in South Australia with a winner for every 4.5 runners in the 2017-2018 season.

At Globe Derby Park on Saturday, I Wanna Rocknroll, led throughout in the Maughan Thiem Ford Ranger Pace (1800m) to give Stevens her 12th winner from just 54 starters.

Backed from $2.80 into $2.30 favourite, I Wanna Rocknroll scored an easy seven metre win from Melegend ($7.80) with Blaze Me ($173.70), 8-1/2 metres away third.

The victory was the first of a winning double for reinsman Wayne Hill who was successful on Crazy Dave later in the night.

I Wanna Rocknroll, a four-year-old mare, was bred by Gary McGinty, Stevens’ major stable client.

“She is one of the few horses Gary has bred,” Stevens said. “He generally prefers to buy horses as going propositions from New Zealand.  The mare, I Cant Believe It, has a two-year-old colt by Rock N Roll Heaven, coming through this season.”

Stevens said I Wanna Rocknroll was an improving mare.

“She has been very consistent but what we have learned is that she doesn’t like the Mildura track and really doesn’t handle the turns at all well.

“We took her there trying to pick up her Vic bonus but now we are looking at heading to Horsham in a few weeks. I’m sure the track will be fine but I’m thinking the opposition will be tougher.”

Stevens was looking to improve her strike rate at Port Pirie on Sunday however her talented three-year-old Bettorhavtime found the sprint lane, but the finish line came up too soon and finished second in the Allwood Stud Pace (1609m).