John McArdle plans to leverage the Victoria Handicap as a foundation for El Rocko’s wet-track pursuits this winter, foreseeing a sharper effort from the free-rolling gelding this coming Saturday.
The son of Fastnet Rock, now seven, contests his second race of the campaign in Caulfield’s Group 3 sprint over 1400 metres.
Fond of wet going, the miler finished tailed off first-up at Caulfield on March 21 going 1200m on Good ground, although McArdle stressed not everything clicked during the race.
“He needed the run and blew out on the dry track, but he looked as though he was going to hold his gallop and then he got bumped pretty hard,” McArdle said.
“For a horse as big as he is he’s a bit of a coward and when he got the bump he put the cue in the rack.
“He’ll head towards the Victoria Handicap and then probably back up the week later in the Vase.”
April 11 sees the $175,000 Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield.
Previous campaign brought El Rocko success in the Sale Cup and a third placing in the 1600-metre Seymour Cup, amid 17 outings from February 1 to the Kilmore Cup November 23.
Building a fitness platform through early campaign starts will equip the gelding to chase winter rain-affected races.
Following Caulfield, McArdle eyes possibilities like the Group 3 Cummings Stakes (1600m) on May 9 at Morphettville or select New South Wales targets after The Championships.
“If it rains somewhere, he’ll go there,” McArdle said.
“We give him a few runs to get him fit then just take him where there’s rain.”
With 29 entries in the Victoria Handicap, El Rocko could encounter Group 1 stars Here To Shock and Desert Lightning.
Joining the Victoria Handicap on Caulfield’s Saturday Group 3 bill is the Easter Cup (2000m), featuring among its 28 entrants Bankers Choice, Immediacy, Plymouth, Benagil and Doctor Askar from Chris Waller’s Kiwi contingent.
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