Cotchin’s clean sweep of Group 2 Classics

Keith Cotchin left rival harness racing trainers to fight among the minor prizemoney when he landed an Alabar Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic Final double at Melton on Saturday night.

It was the Elmore-based Cotchin’s first metropolitan training double at Tabcorp Park and he executed the feat with a couple of maiden performers Denny Rocks, courtesy of a brilliant drive by John Caldow, and Diamond Shooz.

Unsuccessful in 12 previous attempts, Denny Rocks appeared unlikely to break the drought when he was buried five back along the pegs heading into the back straight on the final occasion.

Caldow saved every inch of ground before easing into the running line with 700 metres to travel and the son of Rock N Roll Heaven gained a saloon passage through the field before peeling four wide around the home turn.

Cotchin conceded the stars aligned for Denny Rocks, who finished sixth in his heat, after Spring Line was scratched from the $50,000 final.

“We were first emergency and then gained a run when Steve Duffy’s horse came out and then everything fell into place, getting a soft run along the pegs in a fast-run race and then John (Caldow) did the rest getting a great run through the field,” Cotchin said.

Purchased outside the sale ring by John Senior, Denny Rocks had been the medium of bad luck in several outings according to Cotchin.

“There have been excuses made for him not being driven right and probably not trained right,” he said.

“We always thought he was all right with a good turn of speed.”

Cotchin completed a Group 2 double when the well-backed Diamond Shooz speared to the lead and was never headed thereafter in the Alabar Vicbred Platinum Home Grown Classic Final for three-year-old fillies.

Diamond Shooz arrived at Cotchin’s place after being transferred from the NSW stables of James Rattray six weeks ago.

“James sent her down as she is Victorian bred and eligible for good races such as this,” he said.

Cotchin admitted his confidence level with the filly was significantly greater than his charge in the three-year-old colts final.

“I thought if she found the front without having to do too much work then she would be hard to beat,” he said.

“She has improved with each run since arriving and it was her first time in front and she may have knocked off a bit over the last 100 metres.”

By John Dunne for HRV