And that is why Rangiora trainer Ross Rennie is figuring out his next move with the mare after her win in a Golden Girls mobile trotting heat at Oamaru yesterday.
Rennie had his work cut out for him on two fronts with the 6yr old - firstly with her tendency to pace but, more importantly, with her feet.''
She's had feet problems through her life and that's why she's only started racing now,'' Rennie said.
The daughter of Armbro Invasion qualified early in her 5yr old year but had just one start before resurfacing last July.
Aside from her feet problems, Tessa's Rocket has wanted to pace, even though there is no direct pacing influence in her bloodlines.
The closest is Interchange, a half sister to her third dam, Jenny Gee, who went on to be the dam of 2005 Interdominion pacing champion Elsu.
Little did Tessa's Rocket know that she was just about on her last chance as a trotter.
''The reason we've gone for these mobiles is that she's been pacing away. She's not pacing bred, but she's got that Interchange family in her.
''I trained Mamalu, out of Jenny's Comet which is a half sister to her mother, Jenny's Rocket, and he was the same.
''She's a beautiful pacer. In fact, before Invercargill, that was her last chance or she was coming home to get the hobbles put on her.''
Rennie is now considering another start for Tessa's Rocket at Rangiora later this month before the Golden Girls final at Addington on July 31.
''I don't want to risk not going to Rangiora and wait a week or a couple of weeks and then something happens with her feet and you wonder why you didn't go to Rangiora.''
Braxton, by contrast, has been trouble free for trainer Craig Kennedy.
Kennedy and co owner Philippus Van Gruting bought the 3yr old from James Geddes about a month ago, and were quickly rewarded with a win on debut at Oamaru.
''We bought it from James Geddes and he thought a fair bit of them,'' Kennedy said.
''They do a great job.''
Kennedy, who trains at Cust in North Canterbury, gave credit to his farrier, Paul Howlett, who had done ''a great job'' with the gelding's feetWick has made the wait well worth it for his owner breeder, Ian Bennett.
Bennett, of Te Houka near Balclutha, had bred from his mare, On The Double, twice before Wick came into the world in late 2011.
On The Double won 10 races in her career, including the 2007 Autumn Cup at the Northern Southland meeting at Ascot Park, but her first two progeny, Boucle and Neves, had failed to flatter.
Wick is by Macca Lodge stallion Panspacificflight, who has made his mark with Arden's Choice, Little Rascal and The Manipulator this season.
Quality Invasion made his last start a winning one in the feature trot.
The 11yr old's victory over Star Commando and Pyramid Monarch was at his 96th start, and the farewell win - his 19th career success - was marked by a salute from driver Amber Lethaby.
