Racing: Rosie rockets into Cup contention

Rosie Rocket staked a strong claim on the XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup (2200m) after outstaying her rivals to win the AHA Cup (2019m) on Sunday.

Picture by David Bailey: Shaun Meeres controls Rosie Rocket to run-away triumph in the $50,000 Mount Franklin AHA Cup (2019m) on Sunday.

Brilliantly ridden by Shaun Meeres, who settled fourth on the rails, Rosie Rocket grabbed the lead inside the final200mto defeat Peg’s Pride by one length.

It completed the third leg of a riding treble for Meeres after earlier wins on Bear Trader and Mirrannon.

Running home strongly from near last to fill third placing was Battle Emblem, one of three runners for trainer Grant Williams.

Battle Emblem, racing first up since the Perth Cup, ran the fastest final 600m in 35.24sec.

Stablemate Lords Ransom ran fifth, after racing in the forward pack, while Moonlight Bay was doing her best work late and finished seventh, four lengths from the winner.

Rosie Rocket, trained by Justin Warwick, was unplaced in her first two starts back after ending her previous campaign with successive feature wins.

She won the Starstruck Classic (1600m) in dominant fashion before taking out the La Trice Classic (1800m) over Peg’s Pride.

Rosie Rocket, relishing the addition of blinkers and a drop of 5kg, boosted her record to nine wins from 24 starts with prize money of $278,500.

Kerrific, who was sent out the $4.50 favourite, settled in the back of the field for apprentice jockey Ryan Hill and had only two behind him when turning the corner.

The Blackfriars gelding, attempting the journey for the first time in his career, copped a bump and was unbalanced for a stride before grinding his way into sixth place.

New Spice was disappointing and faded to tenth after being handily placed when fourth on the corner.

Reverend Lovejoy was the last horse out of the gate and only finished one spot in front of Albany galloper Noble Steed, who faded to finish behind the field after setting the early pace.

Earlier in the program Gaps In Me Knees signaled there were more wins in store after breaking through to score impressively in the Jacob’s Creek Maiden (1410m).

The Ben Pearce-trained filly had her hoof on the till after placings from her last two starts and was nicely ridden by Chloe Chatfield who took full advantage from barrier one.