The season rolls on

Rockmount has, like the majority of the industry, been affected indirectly by the outbreak of equine influenza in Australia. Our numbers in pretraining have been significantly reduced due to the ban of the movement of horses from N.S.W. to Victoria. Many of our clients are based atRandwick and in the Hunter Valley which obviously decreases the number of horses in our care.

However, the show must go on and we continue to produce good results both here in Australia and overseas. Bel Esprit, by the all conquering Royal Academy, has been having a wonderful season and Belcentra continued her sire’s good run when she claimed a 1200 metre handicap at Moonee Valley on September 28th. Ridden by Corey Brown, the filly showed a terrific turn of foot to easily account for a good field. A Stakes race on Cox plate day is next on her agenda.

The following day at Mornington Mark Hoare’s Pacific Bloodstock had reason to cheer when Twin Town saluted the judge. The Rockmount pretrainer is an imported mare by Halling and under vigorous riding, almost too vigorous (!), from Craig Newitt she lumped 56kgs to victory to give Mick Price another win for the season. The following day saw the rejuvenated Cefalu carry top weight of 58 kgs in a mile and a half handicap on Sandown’s Hillside course. Trained by Lee Freedman and ridden by apprentice William Hernan, the six year old gelding is finally providing a return for his owners who imported him from South America last year. A prolonged regime in Rockmount’s water walker has certainly aided in his improved performances.

September 24th saw a very impressive trial winner at Cranbourne in the shape of Viennese. The Darley owned, Rockmount pretrained filly is a full sister to Snitzel and was the top priced filly at this years Magic Millions yearling sales commanding a final bid of $1.4 million. Only small in stature, the filly won easily in a time of 47.17 for the 800 metres. She followed this up on October 15th by winning another 800 metre trial hard held in a similar time of 47.59. She will be hard to beat wherever she steps out first.