La Rocket’s Group 2 breakthrough
Feb 22 2010
Stable favourite La Rocket was rewarded for his consistency with a courageous win in the Group 1 St. George Stakes (wfa 1800m) at Caulfield on February 20.
La Rocket, who earlier this season won the Listed Seymour Classic (1600m), became the first Group winner for the Wadham Park Group.
Trainer Dale Sutton was ecstatic with La Rocket’s performance after the gelding, ridden by stable jockey Stephen Baster, trailed the speed before holding off the favourite Heart Of Dreams.
“I don’t think this horse has ever put in a bad run. He just gets up near the speed and he just keeps going. He tries really hard,” Sutton said.
It’s fitting that La Rocket is the horse to reach the Group-win milestone for the Wadham Park team, as the son of Rock Of Gibraltar has been a headline act for the stable all season – his form including a third behind Black Caviar in the Group 3 Australia Stakes (1200m) and a fourth behind Rangirangdoo in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m), both at Moonee Valley.
The St. George Stakes win comes as Wadham Park is having its most fruitful season. Sutton has led in 33 winners this season, mostly in the last three months, which places him 14th on the Victorian Trainers’ Premiership.
Sutton said La Rocket deserves to have a crack at the Group 1 Australian Cup (wfa 2000m) at Flemington on March 6.
