Rockin Bull proves too good
Talented three-year-old Rockin Bull resumed from a spell with an all-the-way at Globe Derby Park on Saturday.
Driven by Danielle Hill, the first of a treble for SA’s star reinsperson, Rockin Bull ($1.75 fav) scored a 1-1/2 metre win in the Ladbrokes Same Race Multi Pace (1800m) from Clarenden Tribute ($3.80) with Supercharged ($51), four metres away third.
The three-year-old is trained by Shaun Adams who said the colt would be improved by the run, his first since December 19 last year.
The trainer said he was unlikely to back up Rockin Bull in next Saturday’s $9999 Pacing For Pink Classic (1800m) at Globe Derby Park.
“I don’t like backing up my horses within a week,” Adams said.
“I was considering running him in the Emerging Stars Series next month which has a $25,000 final but tonight’s win might have made him ineligible. I will speak with the authorities this week.”
Adams rarely has more than one horse in work because of his employment.
“On cold mornings I am happy to just have the one.
“Rockin Bull did his early racing for Andy Gath in Victoria and if he continues to race well there is every chance he could return to him.”
Hill took the colt to the front from gate three but Clarenden Tribute, driven by Jason Kittel, was around to sit parked.
The two runners paired off from the 600-metre mark, but Rockin Bull was too strong.
Kittel had success in the opening event, the Paceway Restaurant Open Race Nights Pace (1800m), on Blacktop Rock for One Tree Hill trainer Cosi Puccini.
Blacktop Rock ($4.80) came with a well-timed run to win by 2-1/2 metres from Butter Cup ($8.50) with the leader Whata Optimist ($6), 1-/2 metres away third.
The win was a reward for consistency as the seven-year-old had been placed at his previous four starts.
It was also a first Saturday metro win for the trainer as his other win with Blacktop Rock had been on a Monday.
Puccini was born into harness racing as his father Joe was a trainer, and his uncle is Peter Sergi whose daughter Lisa is married to Paul Cavallaro.
“I have had Blacktop Rock from when he was a weanling,” Puccini said.
“He originally was trained by Ryan Hryhorec, then had a few other trainers before I decided to have a go myself.
“I have a nice track on my property at One Tree Hill and work him in the morning before going off to my electrical business.
“It is also a great comeback by him. On my 40th birthday he tipped me out then ran away and damaged a shoulder which forced him to have a year off to recover.
“I love him, and tonight’s win was a fantastic result.”
It was also a big week for Port Pirie trainer Daniel Tucker.
Captain Cosmonaut, a 10-year-old, won on Tuesday at Port Pirie before backing up at Globe Derby Park in the Hilltop Fresh Flowers Pacing For Pink Pace (2230m) giving the trainer his second metro success.
Brilliantly driven by Kevin Weidenbach, Captain Cosmonaut ($6.50) came off the back of the leader Twin Connection ($8) to win by a head with Heza Tiger ($34), 10 metres away third.
Tucker is following in the footsteps of his grandfather Jim and father Garry who were harness trainers.
After not having a winner in 2024, Tucker made a phone call which changed his fortunes.
An ownership group called Solotrek Syndicate was trying to sell some horses, but Tucker talked them into giving them to him to train and so arrived Captain Cosmonaut and Duke Of Dundee which placed third in the Kevin & Kay Seymour final later in the evening.
“I’ve got four horses for Solotrek, and they are all nice horses capable of landing more wins for my stable,” Tucker said.
“I’ve got to thank Kevin (Weidenbach), I think he is a much under-rated driver.
“It amazes me he doesn’t get more drives – I couldn’t be happier with his drives on my horses.
“Rather than go to the sprint lane tonight on Captain Cosmonaut he came off because he felt it gave the horse a better winning chance, and he was right.”
Another Port Pirie stable with a win was trainer Dale Afford.
Heavily backed Machete Roulette ($2.50 into $1.80 fav) led throughout in the Table Of Knowledge Pacing For Pink Pace (1800m).
The three-year-old, perfectly driven by Ryan Hryhorec, dashed away for a four-metre win from Splash Of Paynt ($2.80) with My Bucks Night ($23), a metre away third.
Afford believes Machete Roulette will continue to improve with age and racing.
“She is still very immature,” Afford said.
“She is a big filly and still really has to grow into her body.
“I will give her a break now and get her back for later in the season.”
Afford said he fell in love with Machete Roulette when she was offered as a yearling by Wyndown Stud.
“She had everything I wanted in a yearling’s conformation and was determined to buy her.”
Machete Roulette has won six of her 19 starts and raced against the best of her age in South Australia.
As a trainer, Hryhorec increased his lead on the SA trainer’s premiership to 39 with 64 winners overall with victories by quality performers in Betterzippit and Doff Your Cap.
Betterzippit, which won the inaugural $1million Nullabor at Gloucester Park, in unbeaten in three starts for Hryhorec with a victory in the Ladbrokes Punter Assist Pace (1800m).
Squaregaiter Doff Your Cap scored his second straight win finishing best to win the Vale Reg Trevean Trotters Handicap (2645m).
Both horses were driven by Danielle Hill, who had a treble to build a three-win lead over her brother Wayne in the SA driver’s premiership.
- Graham Fischer
- Walter Bulyga