Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Rajah Rocks has been racing exclusively on South-West tracks in recent times before he reappeared at Gloucester Park on Friday night for the first time for six and a half months.
Trained and driven by Aiden De Campo, the four-year-old Rajah Rocks lined up as a $15.20 chance from the outside of the back line in the $23,000 APG Perth Yearling Sale Pace over 2130m when he gave a sample of his ability with a stylish victory.
The $2.65 favourite Cee Dee Three was smartest to begin from the No. 1 barrier and was bowling along in front with No Noney ($5.50) moving to the breeze after about 550m.
Blaze Away ($2.75) settled down in 11TH position after starting from out wide at barrier nine. Gary Hall Jnr set Blaze Away alight with a fast move 1350m from home which took him to a half-length lead 300m later. But he was unable to cross Cee Dee Three and was left in the breeze.
Blaze Away eventually got to a clear lead 600m from home. Rajah Rocks was ninth at the bell before he unwound a strong finishing burst and went four wide on the home turn before bursting to the front in the final 70m and winning by more than a length from No Noney, with Blaze Away wilting to finish third.
“I thought Rajah Rocks was a touch disappointing at his previous start (when he led and finished third behind Blaze Away and No Noney at Pinjarra),” said De Campo. “He is not over brave, and it was a big help tonight when he didn’t get too keen in the middle stages.”
Rajah Rocks is by Art Major and is the fourth foal out of unraced Sutter Hanover mare Gaetana Nicole, and he has lived in the shadow of his full-brother Major Martini, who was a star pacer who earned $322,483 from ten wins and seven placing from 20 starts.
As a two-year-old in 2019 Major Martini won the Group 1 Sales Classic and finished second to Jaspervellabeach in the Golden Slipper, and as a three-year-old he won the Group 2 Sales Classic and the Group 2 Western Gateway and was second to Patronus Star in the WA Derby.