General News
25 September, 2020
Local mare blitzes Ararat rivals
A FAST start proved the catalyst for an impressive win for locally-trained mare Locktoba Rocks on Monday.
A FAST start proved the catalyst for an impressive win for locally-trained mare Locktoba Rocks on Monday.
The six year-old saluted in style for Camperdown’s Gary Tobias, claiming a 2.25 length victory in the 1100 metre Ararat RSL benchmark 58 handicap at Ararat.
Under the guidance of jockey Chelsea Hall, Locktoba Rocks jumped quickly despite a wide alley and put a gap to her rivals, a move which ultimately won the horse the race.
“We had a couple coming from outside of us but she jumped a half length clear and the young jockey Chelsea Hall just took her straight to the front,” Tobias said.
“She dictated terms from there, I think she had a couple of lengths’ lead around the corner and then just kicked clear in the straight.
“The young jockey did a really good job.”
Tobias said the horse had been racing strongly despite recording a fourth place at Donald and sixth place at Warracknabeal in her two starts since a spell.
He said the horse was “a bit unlucky” in those events.
“At Donald she ran fourth and should have ran third but she clipped heels and ran on well,” Tobias said.
“We then went to Warracknabeal a week and a half ago and we drew the widest barrier.
“We went forward but couldn’t get across so we ended up three wide with no cover and she overraced a bit and then knocked up on the bend.
“But it was a good sixth and we could have finished up in the placings (with a bit of luck) but we were never going to catch the winner.”
Tobias added the mare’s racing performance had also not reflected her trackwork until Monday.
But he was pleased it all clicked at Ararat, with the six year-old having her third run in 21 days.
“Her trackwork has been very good considering in her two runs prior she should have been placed in those races,” Tobias said.
“But her races haven’t told the full story. At her first race at Donald she opened at 50-1 and drifted out to 100-1 but she’s actually been flying in her track work.
“Jamie Barry from Terang has been riding her in most of her track work and he said this thing is going really well, which you can see in her track work.
“She got it all together and on Monday’s performance they were never going to catch her.”
Tobias has nominated Locktoba Rocks for three races next week, but he conceded it was unlikely the horse would run in any of those events.
He said the horse’s rating, which had improved to a 58 after her victory, made it harder to attain runs.
Trainers across the state have had fewer opportunities to race at as Racing Victoria cut back its meetings and field sizes as part of its COVID-19 response.
“All you can do is nominate and hope for a run,” Tobias said.
“We were fourth emergency on Monday and it was only because of scratching on the heavy nine that we got a start.
“That was a benchmark 58 and our rating was 54 so we were struggling to get a start but it all fell into place.
“It was a very happy time for us all.”