Thursday, April 4, 2019
Cape Bridgewater owner-trainer Scott “Junior” Blacksell had plenty to crow about at last Sunday’s Tara Raceway cup day meeting when Rooster finally broke through for his first win in the Laser Electrical Maiden Stake.
Whelped in January 2017, the black dog made his debut at the local track at the beginning of this year but it wasn’t until start number 14 that success came his way in what could probably be considered an unsuitable 400 metre event.
Slowly away from box eight, Rooster set himself a fair task when well back early, before putting himself well and truly in the race at the top of the home straight and then finishing strongly to defeat School Report and Our Menace in 23.79 seconds.
The win was the first for the Cosmic Rumble x Manila Express litter which was bred at Edenhope by Cap Abbott who enjoyed plenty of success with the dam, a winner of 18 races for stakemoney in excess of $33,000.
For Blacksell and his partner Jude Tait, the win of Rooster – known as Trevor around the kennels – although coming as something of a surprise was certainly a rewarding experience.
“I really didn’t think he would have much chance over 400 metres because I reckon he’s better suited over a bit more ground,” Blacksell said. “As such, it was a great thrill to see him powering home in the straight over the short course.
“We purchased him as a four-month-old pup from Cap, then reared him and broke him in ourselves here at Tara Raceway so he has been a real hands-on project for a couple of years.”
Later in the day, Rooster’s kennelmate Rusty Sprocket fell in the South Eastern Hotel Mixed Stake (512 m) but bounced back at Wednesday’s time-graded meeting at Tara Raceway in the Winningformula.net.au Stake (512 m) when leading all the way to hold out Ballet Creek by a nose in 30.22 seconds.
Rooster and Rusty Sprocket will now both be back at Tara Raceway on Sunday as will the former’s litter brother Tarragal, Blacksell and Tait hoping he can open his winning account at start number 13.