Brett Prebble will return to Sydney for the first time since 2010 to ride Fast ‘N’ Rocking in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.
Brett Prebble will partner Fast 'N' Rocking in the Golden Rose at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Prebble has not ridden in Sydney since he partnered Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily in the 2010 edition of the Golden Rose and has spent the majority of the past few years riding in Hong Kong, only returning to Australia for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The leading jockey will ride Agent in The Paslode Sprint (1100m) and Honey Flower in the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) but it is the ride on leading Golden Rose contender Fast ‘N’ Rocking that has drawn him to Sydney.
He rode Fast ‘N’ Rocking to victory when the three-year-old broke his maiden in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes (1200m), suffering a ten meeting suspension for careless riding for his trouble, and Prebble is hopeful that the son of Fastnet Rock will have taken a great deal of encouragement out of the impressive win.
“He is a progressive horse and in was the first time that he has won and you would like to see him go on from that,” Prebble told Sky Racing HQ.
“He is potentially one of the best three-year-olds in Australia on the form lines and I would like him to take a good education out of that.
“He is definitely a naughty boy and handling him is not easy but he has very good raw ability.”
Fast ‘N’ Rocking raced erratically after hitting the front in the McNeil Stakes and a number of racing experts have questioned how the fiery colt will handle racing against sixteen other horses in the Golden Rose field.
Prebble does not think that it will be a problem, citing Fast ‘N’ Rocking’s strong efforts against big fields in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) and Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), and believes that the expected quick tempo of the race will sort the three-year-old.
“He has in the past as a two-year-old,” Prebble said of Fast ‘N’ Rocking’s ability to settle in a big field.
“He has a nice barrier but the biggest key to this race is the 1400 metres.
“I think the tempo of this race is really going to suit him and he can travel on the bridle for longer.
“His pet distance when he is older will be a mile and I am very looking forward to riding him over 1400 metres.
“I think you will see the best of him tomorrow.”
