Racing: Rockin Roll Lad proves too nimble

Rockin Roll Lad wins the 2yr-old race at Forbury Park last night from Midnight Dylan. Photo by...
Rockin Roll Lad wins the 2yr-old race at Forbury Park last night from Midnight Dylan. Photo by Tayler Strong.
Rockin Roll Lad set the stage for a good innings for 2yr-old members of the stable of Mark Purdon and Grant Payne when he won the heat of the Sires' Stakes at Forbury Park last night.

The stable has Fly Like An Eagle (Cardigan Bay Stakes) and Veste (Delightful Lady Classic) top chances at Alexandra Park tonight.

Rockin Roll Lad who started from the outside in an eight-horse field, trailed the leader, Monaghan and held off Midnight Dylan by a neck.

"He got a nice run and made the most of it," Blair Orange, his driver, said.

The favourite Orl Black tangled after 350m and again at the same spot when at the rear.

"He just didn't handle the bend," Dexter Dunn, his driver, said.

Rockin Roll Lad is a colt by Artsplace from Rye Hanover, an American-bred mare by Western Hanover.

He is owned by Ian Dobson, of Christchurch, Janice Burnett, of Prebbleton, Darryl Brown, of Kaiapoi and Noel and Wendy Kennard, of Christchurch.

He was bought privately from Platinum Breeding Limited operated by Wayne Ross and Sarah Crawford.

Peter Chambers is now the owner of Rye Hanover.

Rockin Roll Lad is the first New Zealand foal of Rye Hanover.

Dobson paid top price of $160,000 for a colt by Christian Cullen from Rye Hanover at the premier yearling sale last month.

Devil My Care was disqualified from third place for passing inside the pylons for more than 30m in the run home.

• The Silk Road, who won her first start on Sunday at Rangiora, followed up with a win last night.

She is trained by Cran Dalgety for breeders Paul Nixon, of Christchurch and Rod Limbrick, of Auckland.

Nixon was travelling to China last night.

• Paul Court was suspended from March 19 to 23 inclusive for careless driving on Sign Maker in race 5. He admitted shifting in after 200m causing checks to Scottish Union and Caleb El.

Craig Buchan, the driver of Bankers Moment, was fined $200 for a breach of the push-out rule.

• Trainer Mark Jones will pin his hopes on Ardlussa Express in the Four-Year-Old Stakes at Gore on Sunday.

He has opted for a 3-6 win race with another member of his stable, Western Flare.

• The Australasian Young Drivers' Championship has been transferred to the Forbury Park meeting on May 26.

The event was to have been staged at Addington in conjunction with the Interdominion which was transferred to Auckland following the earthquake in Christchurch.

The Four and Five-Year-Old Championship, Sires' Stakes heat for 2yr-old fillies and Sires' Stakes heat for 3yr-old fillies have been programmed for the Forbury Park meeting on Thursday, April 21.

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