Oakford trainer Caris Hamilton-Smith seems to have unearthed a promising horse in former Kiwi pacer Rockaball.
He has won twice and finished a close second in his three runs in WA since crossing the Tasman and he gets his first look at Gloucester Park tonight when he goes around in the fourth event.
Rockaball, a four-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding, has been sparingly raced having only faced the starter on 15 occasions for four wins and four minor placings.
He defeated the Mike Reed-trained Valbonne two starts ago at Pinjarra, but it was his latest victory at that track a fortnight ago that had tongues wagging.
Regular reinsman Micheal Ferguson brought Rockaball from last at the bell with a three-wide run and he quickly gathered in the leaders turning for home and raced away for an impressive win.
It was the victory of a horse going places.
Rockaball has drawn favourably in gate three for tonight’s assignment and Ferguson will be looking to have him a lot closer to the action than he was at Pinjarra.
It’s certainly a step up in class for the Hamilton-Smith runner, but punters will get a good idea of where the horse is at after the event.
The race also features newcomers to the State in Four Starzzz Forsa, now with Glenn Elliott and to be driven by Gary Hall Jr, and James Butt, a former New Zealander now in the stables of Ross Olivieri and to be driven by Chris Voak (Man With Pink Cart).
Four Starzzz Forsa has drawn gate four, while James Butt comes out of gate five.
Both horses haven’t trialled publicly and punters would be wise to monitor the betting fluctuations on these two horses.
However, Four Starzzz Forsa and James Butt haven’t raced in almost six months so Rockaball will have the fitness edge over his two main rivals.
Throw in the consistent Roman Aviator (gate six) and Mistersandman (10), who is aiming for a hat-trick of wins, and you have a very competitive race.
But Rockaball, who is also shooting for three on the trot, appears to have a lot of upside and is certain to make his presence felt.
Wayne Currall