Champion rider Chris Johnson used the same front-running tactics that set up the John and Karen Parsons-trained galloper’s exciting Cromwell win, rating the horse to perfection in yesterday’s 1975m feature.
Camino Rocosso’s rivals had a massive task to reel him in when Johnson let the horse stride out to a lead of six lengths in the middle stages.
That task could have been even harder had Johnson not wanted to keep plenty in reserve for the finish.
"He was just cruising out there. He could have gone quicker down the back," Johnson said.
"He just gets in to his own wee rhythm and he kept going."
Camino Rocosso’s split his two Otago cup wins with a last placing in the Tapanui Cup on slow ground at Gore but yesterday the 6yr-old found the dead track much more to his liking.
"He pulled a bit, but I think the track was just a bit wet at Gore," Johnson said.
"He definitely needs decent ground."
Camino Rocosso’s stablemate, Shesatoucha, did best of the chasing peloton to round out a Parsons’ stable quinella in the Waikouaiti Cup.
The 7yr-old got within four and three-quarter lengths of the winner and was a head in front of third placegetter Son Of Maher.
Johnson won both feature races as Canterbury sprinter Windsor continued his resurgence in the feature sprint.
The Terri Rae-trained 5yr-old was on the speed throughout and fought hard to wear down the leader, He’s Mi Brother, in the straight.
Windsor began his career in the North Island, winning his first start at Waipukurau in December 2017 with Johnson the jockey.
The horse had a totally different feel yesterday and in his previous win at Ashburton.
"I won a race on him up north. He has come back in a lot better," Johnson said.
"It was a nice win at Ashburton and to hang on and win today was a pretty good effort."
Johnson rounded out his successful day at Waikouaiti by riding Kahdhu to win race 8. The victory took him to 2422 career wins in New Zealand.
"Magic" Johnson is now 30 wins away from passing David Walsh’s national riding record of 2451.
"I am just chipping away at it. I am just waiting for it to happen and hopefully it will."
The 55-year-old has travelled to all parts of New Zealand to rack up his huge tally of wins.
"The travel never gets easy. The older we get, the harder it is."
