Co-trainer Matthew Ellerton has confirmed that Want To Rock will head to the 2016 Blue Diamond Preview at Caulfield on January 26 after she made her racing debut with an impressive victory in the New Year Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Friday.
Want To Rock made his racing debut with a narrow victory in the New Year Plate at Flemington. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Want To Rock flew under the radar in the lead-up to the New Year Plate and Ellerton and Zahra-trained Sword Of Light was set to start the race as favourite, but she was scratched at the barriers and Want To Rock was still able to deliver the in-form stable the first of four winners at the New Year’s Day meeting.
Ellerton told Racing Ahead that Want To Rock still has a bit to learn, but he believes she is a filly with plenty of talent and will start a path to the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) in the Blue Diamond Preview on Australia Day.
“She is a filly that has always shown us something from day one,” Ellerton said.
“She went out with a couple of niggles last prep and she has come in this prep and her spiral has been good.
“She went to Werribee and trialed and she trialed well, but she was slow away and we gave her another one out at Flemington and she pinged the machine.
“She did it again on Friday, she left the gates well, she probably wanted to overdo it a bit early and I am sure she will take good improvement from the run.
“I reckon we will probably see her on Australia Day in the Preview.”
Rough Justice delivered the Ellerton and Zahra combination a victory in the Red Tempo Handicap (1000m) on New Year’s Day and he is another horse that is set to race at Stakes level during the autumn period.
Ellerton confirmed that Rough Justice would return to Flemington in a fortnight before he receives an opportunity at Listed level in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) on January 30.
“He will go back to Flemington and run in an open handicap there and then in a fortnight in the Kensington Stakes,” Ellerton said
“It suits him, two more thousands down the straight.”
Ellerton is chasing his second win in the Blue Diamond Stakes after he took out the 1996 edition of the race with Paint.
Extreme Choice is currently available at 2016 Blue Diamond Stakes odds of $5 and is a narrow favourite from Capitalist ($6.50), Calliope ($8.50), Defcon ($9) and Manolo Blahniq ($9).
