Rakero Rocket wins muddy Methven Cup

Once the rains came at Methven and the grass surface slipped into a heavy rating, the $40,000 Group Three Alabar Methven Cup was going to be a race of survival of the fittest.

Understandably all eight runners were driven conservatively.

Winning driver Gavin Smith knew going into today’s feature that his charge Rakero Rocket (Rock N Roll Heaven) was slightly underdone.

Smith gave the five year old the perfect trip sitting in behind pacemaker Who’s Delight and when the passing lane presented he came up the inside to beat Wag Star by a neck with Who’s Delight three quarters of a length back in third.

RAKERO ROCKET REPLAY

The winning time of 4-25.5 was the slowest since 2000 when the race distance became 3000 metres.

“It was tough going out there. When they were trying to quicken, they were battling to pick their legs up. He was out on his feet at the 100 but he fought bravely. With the prep he’s had it was a really big effort for him to hang on. That was brave,” Smith told Brittany Graham from Trackside.

It hasn’t been an easy few weeks for trainer Tom Bamford as he struggled to get Rakero Rocket ready for today’s race.

“He had a really quiet first trial and in the second trial they ran along and went 3-15 so he probably had too hard of a trial. He might have had a wee bug and that trial really knocked him. He’s one of those horses that can lighten up quickly. We’ve been really happy with him this week. He seems back, his blood’s been good and his heart rate’s good so we were confident today and then there was this sort of track. It’s good to have him back,” Bamford said.

Despite jumping up in the IRT New Zealand Cup rankings the gelding will head to the Canterbury Classic and after that either Ashburton or Kaikoura.

Rakero Rocket is a relative baby when it comes to the open class pacing ranks, having only twenty six starts for his nine wins.

“Last year he was just ticking away below the better ones and we hoped the tougher racing at the end of last season would hold to him this season and he might push his way into that top bracket,” Smith said.

Owned by Ronnie Dawe, Bamford and Smith have concentrated on getting Rakero Rocket’s confidence back, especially around standing starts.

“We did work on all of his manners last year, like beginning well and getting him to settle. We drove him quietly because he hadn’t had a lot of racing for a horse that had got through his grades quick. That’s why we drove him as quiet as we could when he was racing the big bangers. It mentally and physically toughened him up. He went through a wee funny stage last year and we made some gear changes. Now he’s back to where he used to be. The tape goes and you say go and he’s away. That will be a big asset to him going forward,” Smith said.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink