Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
It was quite a new experience for New Zealand-bred pacer Love On The Rocks when he began from barrier six in the 1730m 7News Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Having his second start for trainer Gary Hall Snr and his second run in Australia, Love On The Rocks was appearing in a mobile event for the first time for 18 months. His five starts in that period were all in stands, for a win and four placings.
His previous run in a mobile was when he began from the outside of the front line in a 2400m event at Wairio on March 31, 2022, when he showed no early speed and raced in tenth position before surging home with a powerful late burst to finish second behind the pacemaker Tommy Waterhouse.
“We didn’t quite know much about his gate speed,” admitted reinsman Gary Hall Jnr. “But it was pretty good, and he was able to get to an early lead, set the pace and win with a little bit to spare.”
Love On The Rocks, the $1.30 favourite, began speedily and was engaged in a spirited duel with $7 chance Per Ardua Ad Astra, who began fast from the outside of the front line before breaking into a gallop after about 120 metres.
Hall then sent Love On The Rocks to the front from $19 chance Ultimate Rocker about 250m later and the Terror To Love six-year-old gave a strong frontrunning display to win by a length from Ultimate Rocker, rating 1.57.1 after final quarters of 29.7sec. and 28sec.
Love On The Rocks, who is out of the unraced Badlands Hanover mare Uroc On, won at seven of his 37 New Zealand starts and now has a record of 39 starts for eight wins, eleven placings and $85,898 in stakes. His half-brother Chuckles earned $47,825 from eight wins and five placings from 35 starts.