The half-sister to Chicago Bull, Rockabilly Blues, lived up to her breeding when she won on debut at the Young Quinn Raceway at Wyndham today.
The giant four year old mare by Rock N Roll Heaven is owned by her trainers Katrina and John Price and prior to today's race had had six workouts and a trial. She qualified at Ascot Park in September and has been given plenty of time to mature.
Rockabilly Blues drew four on the second line and driver Nathan Williamson settled her three back on the outside. At the 450 metre mark Williamson sent her forward and she was five wide at the 400. She came down the middle of the track resolutely and held on to beat Miss VC by three quarters of a length. Her winning mile time was 1-56.5.
"I had to start my run a wee bit before I wanted because there was a bit of cat and mouse in front and I didn't want to be left with a 200 metre sprint. I came out early and forced their hand. She probably peaked on her run but she should improve. She lugged in a wee bit when I came wide on the track but that was expected because I was coming so wide," said Williamson.
He also noted the mare was a bit more fired up today.
"She's been good at the workouts but she was a lot more worked up today being her first race start. When she gets more seasoned she'll get better. She's not as good when she gets worked up. She's a very high speed mare."
Returning to the winners circle – Photo Bruce Stewart
Rockabilly Blues is the third foal out of the three win Christian Cullen mare Chicago Blues. The first foal Chicago Bull, won two races as a two year old for the Price's before he was sold to Western Australia. There he has become a millionaire pacer for trainer Gary Hall Senior and has now won 40 races and $1,820,709. He was one of the early favourites for this Tuesday's New Zealand Cup but had to be withdrawn after suffering from fractures to his whither region.
Winning connections – Photo Bruce Stewart
The mare's next foal Chicago Cub was sold at last year's yearling sales for the top price of $190,000. He was bought by Emilio and Mary Rosati and renamed Perfect Stride. He's won two of his three workouts for Ray Green in Auckland.
The Rosatis were on-course today and won the first race with their Muscles Yankee mare Zoey's Gift.
Meanwhile maiden trotter Superfast Pat finally got his complete trotting game together when he won the Leithfield Nursery Gold Chip Final by an amazing thirty and a half lengths.
The four year old Lauren Pearson trained trotter got away nicely and was taken straight to the front by driver Brent Barclay.
The previous week at the Riverton meeting Missy Moo won by twenty three and three quarter lengths.
Records suggest that David Moss's win by forty one lengths at Ascot Park in September 1990 is the widest winning margin ever recorded by a trotter in the south.
Bruce Stewart