Bobbie rocks in Riverton Cup

“To get the win for Tom who’s a big part of the Riverton Club, is really cool,” harness racing trainer/driver Kirstin Green said today after Bobbies Rock (A Rocknroll Dance) won the Carriers Arms Hotel Riverton Cup for RTC committee man Tom Kilkelly.

The six year old after getting away safely, settled third but was shuffled back one place when Step It Up A Notch came round to lead with a lap to run. Turning, Green was in trouble with Bobbies Rock second last on the inside.

“I thought I’d buggered it up. Up the back I thought I shouldn’t have stayed in. But luckily things fell into place and it worked out.”

Green had to pull Bobbies Rock across horses and he powered through the middle, to beat Tobasco by three quarters of a length.

“He felt good and he still had a bit in the tank afterwards.”

BOBBIES ROCKS REPLAY

The win was well deserved as the horse’s form line has been solid this prep.

“He always tries and even in town (Invercargill) in his last start against the good horses when they ran home in 54, he was still trucking away and was making ground at the finish. He’s a much better horse on the grass. He’s just more relaxed. He injured a foot as a young horse so he’s got a bit of scar tissue on his coronary band. I think when the tracks are hard it aggravates him. When you go back to the beach or a soft track he’s always better.”

Green hasn’t always liked Bobbies Rock and at one point tried to sack him.

“I hated the horse a couple of years ago and I said to Tom to get rid of him. He had a real terrible attitude and he used to ‘stick you up’ all the time and not pace. But every time we brought him back he just got better and better and he’s a lovely horse to have around now.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink