Trotter ready to rock with attitude

The aptly named Rockinwithattitude (Aldebaran Eagle) should provide her connections with some joy by taking out harness racing’s Group 3 Graeme Lang Aldebaran Park (2YO Fillies) Trotting Mile at Bendigo on Friday night (Dec. 9).

The David Miles-prepared juvenile filly appeared a good thing beaten in the Breeders Crown (2YO Trotting Fillies) Final at her last start after being taken on in the lead by Aroha Kenny in an electric 42.8-second lead time.

Rockinwithattitude fought on gamely in the home straight, finishing a gallant second behind Susan Is Her Name.

Aroha Kenny’s driver Brad Williamson was subsequently suspended for five weeks for what stewards deemed an “unacceptable drive”.

Miles admitted he was surprised to see the daughter of Aldebaran Eagle bucking her brand off in the paddock the following day.

“You wouldn’t think that she’d had a run the next day, she has a great attitude,” Miles said.

Miles concedes he is more upset at the filly ruining her chances in The Redwood after galloping on the first turn when about to trot to the front.

“The Redwood is a trainer’s race, it’s not worth as much as Breeders Crowns and Sires finals but it’s the two-year-old trotting race we all want to win,” he said.

Rockinwithattitude is the likely leader on Friday having drawn the pole over the flying mile, and the unbeaten Emma Stewart-trained The Tradie will have her work cut out in attempting to reel in the leader.

“She is a natural trotter who is fit and well and Jayden (Barker) won’t be handing up,” he said.

Regally-bred colt The Locomotive (Muscle Mass) is poised to complete a quintet of Group wins in his freshman season in the Gavin Lang Aldebaran Park (2YO Colts) Trotting Mile.

The Wayne Potter-trained son of La Coocaracha completed a clean sweep of last month’s Breeders Crown Series when he outclassed his rivals in the final after working to the lead with 1600 metres to travel.

Driver Nathan Jack said The Locomotive is showing no signs of tapering off after making his race debut at Bendigo back in May.

“He’s had little breaks here and there, he went as good as he’s gone at his last start in the Breeders Crown Final,” Jack said.

“He has won six races including three Group 1s and apart from Plymouth Chubb his record as a two-year-old is as good as any in recent years.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by John Dunne, for HRV