Injury can’t keep Rocky down

In true testament of the tenacity of the standardbred, an injury in February 2020 that threatened to end the harness racing career of Yourshoutrocky (Bettor’s Delight), saw his connections Willi and Jim Giumelli rewarded for their years of patience and persistence with the win in race four at Pinjarra Paceway on Monday February 6.

With only the 14 starts under his belt, the six-year-old always showed promise, with yesterday’s win at Pinjarra bringing up the horses fifth win, only being out of the money twice in his short career.

“He did a ligament in his pastern, and we took him to Murdoch, and they scanned him and virtually said good luck, retire him,”

“So, the Giumelli’s sent him to Melbourne to Lee Everson, with a lot of big-name thoroughbred trainers saying he does a good job getting them back, so we sent him over there for about four months and he said he’s right to go.”

“So, I said to Jim and Willi, why not send him up to Sydney to Paul Fitzpatrick, the big track would suit him better, Paul jogged him six weeks and he was lame.”

“I suggested retire him, but he said no way, we will bring him home and put him in the paddock and forget about him for two years.”

Making his way back to WA, he spent considerable time in the paddock before heading back to the stables of Mike Reed, where he appeared in trials in Byford on the 15th of January, winning comfortably in the open mobile in 2:02:8. Yourshoutrocky was back at the races on January 23 with a first up second placing, then five days later with a repeat performance at Northam.

“He’s still a mile overweight, but he’s come back good, and I think he will only get better, as long as his leg holds up, which it looks good at the moment.”

“I had it scanned about three months ago and the Vet said, ‘that ligament is the worst one to have, and good luck’. He scanned it again and he said how well it’s come up, but it looks good and keep doing what you’re doing.”

Reed will continue to race Yourshoutrocky through the classes.

Stable mate Ragazzo Mach NZ had a week off after his last start on the 20th of January, with Reed expecting him to return the races in a fortnights time.

“I was going to geld him, but I don’t have enough time between now and The Nullarbor, he does need gelding. At home he’s a gentleman but as soon as he gets down to the trots, he just goes mental, he squeals, kicks the walls, just mad.”

“He will be better off gelded, for sure.”

by Ashleigh Paikos, for RWWA