Congratulations to the loyal Team of Dynamic Owners that own and race the promising
3yo gelding ROCKIN’ RUGA (Fastnet Rock x Sevruga) who lined up in race 2 the Casino Prince @ Vinery Stud Hcp at Warwick Farm on Wednesday afternoon in the 3yo 1400m event and recorded a tough win.
Trained by GAI WATERHOUSE and ADRIAN BOTT from their Tulloch Lodge stables at Randwick,
Rockin’ Ruga was turned out an absolute treat and was certainly the pick of the yard in the pre-race parade at was just his 2nd career start.
Partnered by jet pilot TIM CLARK, the pair dashed away from the gates and were never headed.
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Rated to perfection in the lead, Tim got away with a couple moderate sectionals mid race and then pushed the go button just before they swung the home. The pair stole a break at this point and upon straightening had established a 3 length lead.
At the 200m the field had not made any impression.
It was at this point however the inexperienced Rockin’ Ruga was causing Tim Clark a few anxious strides.
At only his second race start and with blinkers on and stepping up from 1100m on debut to 1400m, Rockin’ Ruga started to switch off, believing the job was done. He laid-in and then laid-out like a drunken sailor, unsure of what he was expected to do. Tim started to urge the big horse along and then, Rockin’ Ruga could hear the competitors trying to reel him in.
Happy Owners
At this point, he put his mind back on the job and dug deep to hit the line with a comfortable margin.
Tim Clark
Tim Clark told the owners that he has “good upside” and when he “learns what to do, he will win better races than that.”
He is still learning his craft, it has taken a while but the improvement between his first and second race start was simply amazing and if he can take further improvement from this event into his next start, then the future looks bright for the magnificent looking son of Fastnet Rock.
Rockin’ Ruga has certainly been a challenge of both skill and patience for the Waterhouse / Bott combination.
He has always shown ability from the day he first went under saddle but as a colt, he had temperament issues that were dangerous to both himself and staff.
After a gear change to make him a gelding, he quietened down somewhat but then developed a habit to be cantankerous around the barriers. Six weeks of daily schooling and the application of blinkers and a barrier blanket did the trick but added another 6 weeks to his training regime before Gai and Adrian were satisfied that he could be trusted in the machines. It is without doubt the pair have worked him out and despite still being a work in progress, he is developing some manners thanks to education and maturity.
Certainly as the distances increase, he will be better suited and a mile appears where he will be most effective.
A big team of owners were on hand to welcome Rockin’ Ruga back to the Winner’s Circle.
Winner's Circle
The punters didn’t miss him, backing him from $4.20 into $3.00 favourite which was as much a reflection of his potential, as it was to the wonderful way GAI and ADRIAN had turned out the horse.
We also wish to acknowledge the hard work Neil Payne and the staff at Gai Waterhouse Racing had put in. With Gai and Adrian both away at the yearling sales, the tremendous Tulloch Lodge Team had our boy looking like a movie star.
To win a race in town at only his second race start, against a big field of 3yo’s many aiming towards Autumn riches, is a big tick for the horse.
The win now brings into play several good options and we will wait over the next 2-3 days to see how well he rebounds before heading in a certain direction.
After all, Rockin’ Ruga had easily accounted for Gai and Adrian’s Gr1 winning Filly
PINOT in a barrier trial, so the long term upside is exciting for his owners.
Congratulations to the Ownership Team of ROCKIN’ RUGA:
Dynamic Syndications Racing, Mr R W Te Wheoro, Mr G T Carnegie-Smith, Mr R J Gall, Mr T Krezo, Ms S Lee, Mr I J Middleton, Mr G Pierce, Mr A W Robertson, Mrs L Tranter, Mr J Yianni, Mr J Z Batori, Mr S Batori, Mr S Young, Mr R G Loveridge, Mr S J Brown, Mr M E Harper, Mr C Luff, Mr S K Chipperfield, Mr D H Imrie
ROCKIN' RUGA became Dynamic Syndications 180th Individual Winner and recorded our 514th Race Win and he was our 27th Win for the 2017-18 Racing Season.