Flemington has continued to be a graveyard for punters in feature races with New Zealand sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse the latest to score a knockout blow.
Roch ‘N’ Horse became the latest triple figure winner when she took out the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday after Lunar Fox won last year’s Australian Guineas at $301.
Giving jockey Patrick Moloney his first Group 1 success, Roch ‘N’ Horse ($101) scored by a long neck from The Astrologist ($61) with September Run ($26) a half-neck away third.
Roch ‘N’ Horse was having her first Australian start after 12 starts in New Zealand, registering three wins, for Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard.
Moroney is listed as the sole trainer of the mare in Australia and said he thought the New Zealand sprinters were up to the task on Saturday.
Levante, which defeated Roch ‘N’ Horse in New Zealand’s premier sprint, The Telegraph at Trentham in January, finished fourth, and was the first home on the grandstand side of the track.
“I thought the New Zealand sprinters were up to it,” Moroney said.
“A lot of people didn’t think they were, but I was pretty sure with what I’ve seen there that they were.
“We were always going to get her to Australia, it was just a matter of which carnival and we thought this was the right place for her.”
For Moloney, he said it was a massive result to get his breakthrough Group 1 win.
“I can’t thank everyone enough and the horse today, she was in the zone,” Moloney said.
“She waltzed out of the yard, had a strut to her. She was down at the barriers quiet as a lamb for a horse that I trialled during the week, that was pretty hot.
“But today, she was so calm and conserved her energy and things couldn’t have worked out any better.
“I said to Mike early that I thought we’d go down to the fence. It was as good as anywhere and we got a beautiful cart on the back of September Run.
“It’s just unbelievable and it had to be for Mike. We’ve had a lot of history. He’s only been putting me on in Group 1s even though he’s got his other jockeys behind him now.
“For the best part of two years I was his main rider, and I had a couple of rides for him at 52 (kilos) and he’s rewarded me today.”