ROCKER BAND TO RESUME IN HANNON
Two conditioning Rangiora runs have last season’s Harness Jewels 4YO Diamond winner Rocker Band on song to make her 5YO debut in the Group 3 $25,000 Hannon Memorial at Oamaru on Sunday, September 11.
Rocker Band was restrained to the rear when resuming at the Rangiora trials on Wednesday August 24 and was only given a quiet outing first-up, making ground late.
The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and Mainland Banner returned to the Rangiora workouts on Wednesday, August 31, stepping up her preparation.
She ran Lewy Risk, a newcomer to the Brent Borcoskie stable, to a half a head in the C1 and faster mobile pace, with a resuming Art Union four lengths back third.
The winner ran the mobile 2000m in 2:31.5 (2:01.8 mile rate), the leaders sharpening up the speed over their last 800m in 56.2s and final 400m in 27.2s.
Rocker Band was transferred to the mobile heat after the fast class stand start heat was deleted.
She won her first stand start race in the Nelson Cup Prelude in early January after beginning well to take the lead.
She then finished eighth at her only other start from a stand at Blenheim two weeks later after bobbling away for a couple of strides off the 20m line but soon settling into her pacing gait.