Gear Change Leaves Rock's Eye On Prize

Newcastle Herald

Saturday August 21, 2004

Geoff Wilson - Racing

A SIMPLE gear change might be enough for Fastnet Rock to break through for his first win in today's Up And Coming Stakes at Warwick Farm.

He will be out to shed his tag as the best maiden galloper in Australia today.

Top Newcastle trainer Paul Perry has elected to remove the blinkers from Fastnet Rock, which runs in the $150,000 1200-metre group 2 event.

He was decked out in blinkers when just beaten by Charge Forward, with Dance Hero the closest of thirds, in the San Domenico Stakes over 1000m at Randwick.

The brilliant first-up performance was indicative that Fastnet Rock's time to crack it for a big win was overdue.

"Glen Boss [Fastnet Rock's jockey] thought the horse did not need the blinkers now, so I have removed them," Perry said.

"Boss thought that Fastnet Rock was racing so truly that there was not much sense in keeping the blinkers on.

"Maybe the gear change might be enough for him to win on Saturday.

"That is all we are hoping for now . . . it is obvious he is very good, but what we need now is to win a race, any race with him."

Perry said he has been totally pleased with Fastnet Rock since his first-up effort.

"Fastnet Rock has done everything asked of him and I could not be happier with him," Perry said at Gosford races on Thursday.

Perry's one concern is the chance of a wet track at Warwick Farm.

The track was still described as slow yesterday afternoon.

"Fastnet Rock has never seen a wet track, and that has to be a query," Perry said.

"I think he will handle it, but there is nothing definite to say he will be OK in wet going."

? Gosford Classic winner Rutherford Eagle could be headed for another big provincial win following his success in the listed race on Thursday.

Connections are considering setting Rutherford Eagle for the 1600m Spring Stakes, which is the feature three-year-old event at Broadmeadow on Newcastle Cup day, September 16.

Rutherford Eagle could run on Saturday week in Sydney in either the group 3 1400m Ming Dynasty Quality for three-year-olds or the weight-for-age group 2 Chelmsford Stakes over 1600m as his next outing.

? There had to be a good line to come out of the fact that an injured Darryl McLellan had to miss out on the winning ride and be replaced by Rod Quinn, who guided Rutherford Eagle to a seven-length win.

"If Digger was crook before the race then he would have been really sick when he saw Rutherford Eagle so far in front in the straight," owner Col Keane said with a laugh after the win.

© 2004 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home