Group 1 placegetter We’re Gonna Rock is set to continue his comeback to racing at Sandown this weekend after being included in the nominations for the 2014 Kevin Heffernan Stakes.
We’re Gonna Rock will return to racing at Group level in the 2014 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
We’re Gonna Rock made his racing debut under the care of Mark Kavanagh in 2009 and was quickly touted as a potential Group 1 contender after he won at Flemington on debut and took out the Ammon Ra Handicap (1000m) at Geelong at the start of his 2010 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.
The Fastnet Rock gelding made his debut at Group level with an eighth place finish in the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 4 and stepped up to the highest level of racing with a fifth place finish in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
We’re Gonna Rock finished fourth in the Listed Superstable Stakes (1400m) before he stamped himself as a genuine Group 1 contender when he finished an unlucky second behind champion mare More Joyous in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m).
Injury restricted We’re Gonna Rock to just one race in 2011, but he returned to racing with a dominant six lengths win in the Mcclusky Public Relations Handicap (1000m) at Morphettville in 2012 before he scored a maiden win at Group level in the Group 3 Irwin Stakes (1100m).
We’re Gonna Rock was beaten as favourite in the Group 3 McKay Stakes (1100m), but he returned to his best form when he finished within a length and a half of equine superstar Black Caviar in the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m).
The talented sprinter returned to racing with a narrow win over Spirit Of Boom in the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 8 and finished a close second behind Moment Of Change in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes before he stormed home late to finish third behind Sea Siren and Mental in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) – his final race start for over two years due to injury.
We’re Gonna Rock joined the stable of former Harness Racing trainer Tony Romeo during his stint away from racing and he returned to the races with a credible 11th behind Atmospherical in the Listed Earl Grey Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Crown Oaks Day.
The eight-year-old will need to return to his old form to be a winning chance in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1300m) after the likes of Flamberge, Reparations, Charlie Boy, Thermal Current and Generalife were all included in the nominations for the Group 3 event.
