Bonny mare Zero Rock kept up an imposing strike rate and edged closer to a $1m in prizemoney when taking the Listed Travel Associates Classic (1200m) at Eagle Farm for the second year in a row.
Zero Rock ($1.55 fav) lumped 57.5 kilograms fought off all challengers to record her 11th win in 26 starts.
Her record reflects trainer Kelso Wood’s excellent programming of the six-year-old with patience taking precedence over greed.
Zero Rock has won races continously since her first race start in June 2008.
With today’s $54,000 first prizemoney, she has now earned $894,050.
Though she has placed in the Group 1 Stradbroke Hcp and Magic Millions Cup, she has not won higher than a Listed race of which today’s race was her third at that level.
Jockey Chris Munce held Zero Rock together at the head of the field with Norocos slightly heading her before the turn.
At the top of the straight four horses, Zero Rock, Norocos, Nuptse and Cariad all shared the lead.
Caraid ran off the track and Munce had to work the daughter of Danzero to get a break which eventuated at the 200m mark.
Liesele, who settled behind the Zero Rock on the fence, came late after being blocked for a run until the 250m mark.
Zero Rock held on from Liesele with Mossriver, who had a to change course in straight, gaining third.
Dual Chamber finished fourth after flashing home from last.
“I was worried when the bastards went to her,” Wood said.
“But I knew she wouldn’t let me down.
“It was a good effort from a six-year-old mare first-up.
“I know she has a lot of class but she still had a big weight and it was a great effort.”
Wood is planning to run Zero Rock in the Lough Neagh Stakes, a race she also won last year, prior to the Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on January 14.
The win gave Munce a winning treble.
He won earlier on Heart To Fear in the Country Cup (1200m) and Kar Ma Te in the Tattersall’s Arcade Handicap (1800m).
“It was a tradesmanlike win,” Munce said of Zero Rock.
“She was under a bit of pressure on the home turn but I wasn’t really worried.
“I was mindful of the weight she was carrying and she had to carry it.”
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ZERO ROCK | Kelso Wood | Chris Munce | 2 | 57.5kg | $1.55F | |
| 2 | 6 | LIESELE | Liam Birchley | Paul Hammersley | 0.4L | 1 | 54.5kg | $5.50 |
| 3 | 9 | MOSSRIVER | David Murphy | Brad Stewart | 1.7L | 5 | 54.5kg | $7 |
| 4 | 2 | DUAL CHAMBER | Rex Lipp | Eddie Wilkinson | 1.8L | 6 | 56.5kg | $18 |
| 5 | 11 | NUPTSE | Brian Wakefield | Glen Colless | 2L | 9 | 54.5kg | $6.50 |
| 6 | 12 | BEDLUM (NZ) | Geoff Burns | Jim Byrne | 4.3L | 3 | 54.5kg | $71 |
| 7 | 4 | CARIAD | Tony Gollan | Scott Seamer | 5.3L | 8 | 55.5kg | $21 |
| 8 | 10 | CICARELLI | Barry Baldwin | Ryan Wiggins | 5.8L | 7 | 54.5kg | $81 |
| 9 | 8 | NOROCOS | Norm Hilton | Jason Taylor | 5.9L | 10 | 54.5kg | $21 |
| 10 | 3 | CATASHEE | Darren Bell | Scott Galloway | 7L | 4 | 55.5kg | $26 |
| 7 | GENERAL SECRETARY | Brett Baker | Paul Hammersley | 0 | ||||
| 5 | DYSTOPIA | Chris Waller | Jim Byrne | 0 |
