Triple Rock Saint too strong in Gordon Rothacker Championship

Consistent harness racing gelding Triple Rock Saint (Rock N Roll Heaven) finally had some luck his way when he led all the way to take out the Gordon Rothacker Championship at Melton on Saturday evening.

Winning trainer Julie Douglas had four other runners in the race including the heavily backed favourite Hes No Romeo.

Triple Rock Saint quickly found the front and from then on was perfectly rated by driver Alex Ashwood. Hes No Romeo settled behind the leader while Hez All Rock was wide early before racing outside the leader.

Luva Scrap who had some support came around the outside the field in the final lap but he was too wide chasing the leader. Triple Rock Saint kicked clear on straightening but for a moment Hes No Romeo who had enjoyed the trail behind the leader looked as if he would threaten the leader.

But Triple Rock Saint running his last quarter in 26.8 seconds was flying and he held Hes No Romeo by three metres with Luva Scrap in third place.

TRIPLE ROCK SAINT DEC 27 REPLAY

Alex Ashwood stated after the event.

The horse was pretty good tonight. He hasn’t found the fence for a while. He’s been playing the rating game, he’s been up and down the rating system for the last 12 months. He’s more than capable of what he did today. He had a good trip out in front and got home in good time. It’s the first that he’s found the fence for a long time and he made the most of it.

Triple Rock Saint is raced by well know Swan Hill identity Noel Watson.

The Gordon Rothacker championship honours the memory of the late master reinsman.

Gordon Rothacker won a record 14 Melbourne Drivers’ Premierships between 1949 and 1973, as well capturing 10 Melbourne Trainers’ Premierships between 1953 and 1976.

He was the first reinsman to land 500 winners on Melbourne tracks, doing so at Moonee Valley in 1987, some 39 years after driving his first winner at the Showgrounds as an 18 year old in the inaugural season of night trotting.

Awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours of 1972 for his services to trotting, Rothacker was the Caduceus Club’s first living legend when inducted in 1995 and has also been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by Harness Racing Victoria.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink