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Trainer Caris Hamilton-Smith is in no doubt that Rockaball has what it takes to race in free-for-all company after bouncing back to winning ways at Gloucester Park.
Rockaball scored a comfortable win in the Hoist Torque Taking You To New Heights Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
The seven-year-old lead all the way to see off Whoswhointhezoo and McArdles Gem and it made up for the disappointing first-up defeat a month ago.
On that occasion Rockaball, returning after a three-month absence, finished dead last and then had issues with heat exhaustion after the race.
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“It took him a long time to get over his heat exhaustion. We gave him a little rest when we were able to treat him for a few little niggles,” Hamilton-Smith said.
However Rockaball made an impressive return to racing when dominating from barrier one with Micheal Ferguson in the sulky. Hamilton-Smith felt it was almost like a training exercise.
“His work before tonight’s race was fantastic, and I felt he was nearly back to his best. It was basically trackwork for him (with a slow lead time of 38.2sec. and modest opening quarters of 31.5sec. and 30.1sec.) before he came home in 27.8sec. and 28.3sec,” the trainer added.
Looking ahead and Hamilton-Smith believes a bright future is on the cards for Rockaball.
“Hopefully, there will be a group 2 race coming up soon in his grade,” said Hamilton-Smith. “I think he is a better horse, sat up, and I think he will make it to Free-For-All company.”
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