Fast ‘N’ Rocking Headlines Regal Roller Stakes Nominations

The 2015 Regal Roller Stakes nominations have been released and consistent sprinter Fast ‘N’ Rocking is set to return to the races in the Listed event that will be held at Caulfield on Saturday.

Fast 'N' Rocking will have the chance to return to winning form when he contests the 2015 Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Fast ‘N’ Rocking will have the chance to return to winning form when he contests the 2015 Regal Roller Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett

Fast ‘N’ Rocking has not been seen at the races since he finished fifth behind Charlie Boy in the Group 3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on May 9, but he showed that he was ready for a return to racing with a strong jump out effort at Flemington on Friday.

The Fastnet Rock gelding took out the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) at Sandown at the end of his 2015 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and he performed consistently without winning during the autumn.

Fast ‘N’ Rocking returned to the races in the Listed Abell Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on February 6 and he finished third behind It Is Written before he hit the line strongly to finish third in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28.

He finished a credible fourth in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21 and he was sixth in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 6 before he dropped back in class for the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on April 18 and the BRC Sprint.

The only other horse with a handicap rating higher than 100 that has been included in the 2015 Regal Roller Stakes nominations is talented mare Griante, who finished third in a barrier trial at Cranbourne this morning.

Griante won the Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but she stamped herself as a contender at the highest level of racing in the autumn.

The daughter of Good Journey started her preparation with a credible fourth in the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 14 and she won the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 before she finished third behind Lucky Hussler in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 27 and was denied by Avoid Lightning in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11.

Other notable horses in the 2015 Regal Roller Stakes nominations include Godolphin sprinter Barbed, Victoria Derby runner-up Bondeiger, Henry Dywer-trained Parwan Prince, Aurie’s Star Handicap runner-up Play Master, the lightly-raced Pressing and Australian Guineas placegetter Stratum Star.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.