Trainer Simon Miller believes that Platinum Rocker is ready to win first-up in the 2014 Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Platinum Rocker finished second behind Luckygray in the 2013 Railway Stakes at the end of her spring preparation. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Platinum Rocker has not been seen at the races since he finished a narrow second behind Luckygray in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 23, but showed that he was ready for a return to racing with an impressive barrier trial performance at Belmont Park on March 31.
Miller told Sky Racing HQ that Platinum Rocker had handled the trip from Perth to Queensland well and is confident that she will perform well in the Silk Stocking this weekend, but admits that she may be slightly vulnerable on the tricky Gold Coast track.
“She flew to Melbourne and I thought that I had to truck her up and that is why she trialed a few weeks earlier than anticipated, but with all the Brisbane trainers attacking Melbourne and so forth the flights are quiet frequent,” Miller said.
“She flew to Melbourne and stayed there for five days and she came up here on Tuesday night.
“It is quiet convenient now, you can just go bang, bang and away you go.
“She has settled up here really good and it is all systems go for Saturday.
“This is the most vulnerable she will be this time in; obviously the Gold Coast is a tricky track first-up and she is giving them all 59 kilos and from here it is all set weights with penalties.
“No doubt she will be at her most vulnerable on Saturday, but based on the way that she has trialed and the track work would that she will run a cheeky race and I expect her to factor in the finish.”
Regular jockey Peter Knuckey will partner Platinum Rocker in the 2014 Silk Stocking this weekend and Miller said that the talented hoop gave up a strong book of rides at Ascot to travel to the Gold Coast to ride the six-year-old.
“He had a good book at Perth and he was just mesmerized by her trial and how much she improved again,” Miller said.
“One thing that she does do, if you have a good look at her record, is that she gets bigger and better each campaign.
“She didn’t have to off her last campaign, where she was just beaten in the Railway, but he was happy to come across with no question.”
Platinum Rocker ($5.50) is currently a narrow favourite in 2014 Silk Stocking betting markets from Seaside ($6), Srikandi ($6), La Pieta ($8.50) and Little Brown Horse ($9).
