Strapping Per Incanto colt Rocanto provided a
pair of notable "firsts" with a narrow but comfortable victory in Saturday's Listed
Reid & Harrison (1980) Limited Slipper (1200m) at Matamata.
The showy two-year-old colt became the first individual "black type" winner for
his Little Avondale Stud based sire while also providing the first stakes
triumph of the season for trainer Stephen Marsh who predicts a big future for
the colt.
"He's a good horse and there's no doubt about that," noted Marsh.
"He waited for them again today although we've held off putting the side
winkers on at this stage as he just keeps going ahead.
"We thought we would take all bad luck out of the equation by riding him
forward as we knew Selfie would get back and he has done it really well in the
end."
The race panned out exactly as Marsh had predicted with rider Mark Du Plessis
positioning Rocanto outside leader Element throughout the journey while race
favourite Selfie settled at the rear of the six horse field.
Things started to get serious on the home corner with Rocanto and Element
having a brief bumping duel before the Marsh trained runner dashed to the lead
with 200 metres to run. At that stage Selfie was unwinding a strong run but he
had too much to make up as Rocanto held him out by a short neck in a smart
1.10.28 for the 1200 metres.
"Honestly I thought he would be unbeaten in this campaign as he showed us so
much early on," said Marsh.
"Things didn't go right for him at Auckland when he was beaten but he's been
faultless ever since and has done a great job."
Raced by his Hong Kong owner Ken Lau, Rocanto will now be aimed at a possible
Group One prize provided he comes through the Matamata run in good shape.
"I've always thought he would be a better three-year-old but if he comes
through this win in good style then we will take a look at the Diamond at
Ellerslie and maybe on to Manawatu," said Marsh.
The Diamond Stakes (1200m) is run at Ellerslie on the 7th of March
and is one of two Group One races for two-year-olds with the other being the Manawatu
Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on the 28th of March. – NZ
Racing Desk