Spring G1 sprints on the agenda for Missrock

Rising four year mare Missrock will be targeting the Group 1 sprints during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival which will include the Manikato Stakes and the Darley Classic.

Missrock, above, will kick off her 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.

Missrock, above, will kick off her 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Steve Hart.

Missrock showed that she was up to Group 1 level in the Autumn with a tough second to Vega Magic in the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville and trainer Robbie Laing to happy to test her against the top class sprinters again.

Laing has picked out the Group 2 $400,000 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on October 14 as Missrock’s Spring Carnival springboard before progressing on to the Group 1 $1m Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 27 on Cox Plate eve.

“I think the Schillaci Stakes on the same day at The Everest could work out beautifully for her,’’ Laing told the Herald Sun.

“She’ll come back better than ever as an older mare, which should put her close to the top sprinters.”

A competitive performance in the Manikato Stakes could then see Missrock line up on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) down the Flemington straight.

Missrock landed in the limelight during the 2016 Sydney Autumn Carnival with a win in the Group 3 $500,000 IG Markets Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Laing then tested the Fastnet Rock filly over a staying distance during the Melbourne Spring Carnival but she was comprehensively beaten when ten lengths fifth to Lasqueti Sprint in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington.

Laing then decided to keep Missrock to the sprint distances and she scored a first up win over 1100m down the Flemington straight to kick off her 2017 Autumn campaign.

Two starts later Missrock finished second to Secret Agenda in the Group 2 $300,000 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 8 before heading to Adelaide where she finished fourth to Secret Agenda again in the Group 1 $1m Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville prior to her second in The Goodwood.

Missrock is the winner of three of her fourteen starts and has earned $899,100 in prizemoney.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.