ROCKER BAND OVERCOMES OUTSIDE 2ND ROW AT MILE START
An outside second row draw at the Addington mile start on January 15 couldn’t stop impressive 4YO mare Rocker Band from remaining unbeaten this season.
While second favourite New Years Jay led up the three wide line from the outside of the front row, moving to parked at the 750m, Rocker Band had to dodge early breaker Flyin Heather, settling last.
Rocker Band unleashes her winning sprint outside New Year’s Jay and Betty Golightly in the Prodigal Seelster Summer Of Speed Series Heat at Addington.
She was able to work up with a three wide trail behind stablemate Perissa then launched four wide turning for home after Perissa couldn’t go on at the 300m.
Rocker Band stormed past the leaders for Samantha Ottley to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths in a useful 1:55.5 for the 1609m in drizzly wet conditions.
Happy Heidi rallied well along the markers to grab second ahead of New Years Jay and Change The Rulz, with Perissa tiring to finish eighth.
Rocker Band, a daughter of Rocknroll Hanover and 2005 NZ Cup-winning mare Mainland Banner, snuck just under the radar into the conditions of the Prodigal Seelster Summer Of Speed Series for non-winner of $65,000 lifetime.
Now unbeaten in three starts this term, she lifted her earnings to $63,190 with this latest win, her seventh from 17 starts.
The $16,000 Prodigal Seelster Summer of Speed Series Final will be run at Ashburton on February 6.
With 50m to go, Samantha Ottley has no concerns as Rocker Band strides clear from Happy Heidi (partly obscured inner).
The Speed Series Final is to be run six days ahead of the Group Two $40,000 Garrards Horse & Hound Premier Mares Championship at Addington on Friday, February 12, another mares target for Rocker Band.
Rocker Band’s driver Sam Ottley moved to nine driving wins for the term (including three wins with Rocker Band), while trainer Mark Jones advanced to 26 wins and retains fifth place on the trainers premiership.
By Jeff Scott