Gold Front Thoroughbreds stallion Awesome Rock is going from strength-to-strength this season and he completed another successful week at Pinjarra on Thursday when Always Awesome broke through in the Chaff City Maiden (1300m).
Always Awesome (Photo / Western Racepix) was given a perfect ride in the running line by Jordie Turner and was off and gone in the straight while short-priced favourite Lombadina (Ducimus) was blocked for run closer to the rails.
The Simon Miller-trained gelding was racing second-up following a seven-month spell and the win wasn’t unexpected after firming from $13 into $8.50. He’s bred to get over ground as the first foal of a half-sister to Storm Approach (Purrealist) who won a LR Hill Smith Stakes over 1800m at Morphettville.
Always Awesome (3g Awesome Rock – Hussh Baby by Hussonet) races for a syndicate that includes Chris Chalwell, Ray Meadowcroft and Neil Pinner. He was bred by Einoncliff Park owners Wayne and Jane Beynon and sold for $85,000 through Western Breeders Alliance at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions.
Hussh Baby has a Long Leaf yearling colt with Pearce Racing and she foaled an Awesome Rock filly in August.
Awesome Rock’s latest winning run began last Thursday when Awesome Lineup landed his maiden when racing second-up over 1300m at Ararat. Like Always Awesome, he received all the favours in running under Linda Meech.
Awesome Lineup was bred by Troy and Leon Corstens and they know the breed having trained Awesome Rock to a Group 1 victory in the 2016 Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock) sired his fifth Stakes winner on Saturday when Own The Queen overcame a wide draw in the LR Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m). Trainer Justine Erkelens said she will be set for the G3 WA Oaks (2400m) on March 30 after a likely lead-up in the LR Natasha Stakes (2200m) on March 16.
Read the LR Ascot 1000 Guineas report here
Awesome Rock mare Rockstar Status won the Rose Of York (1500m) at the Labour Day meeting on Monday. She was bred and sold by Gold Front owners Alan and Sue Olive for $37,000 at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions and is an older full-sister to last year’s G2 WA Derby winner Awesome John.
The winners kept ticking over on Wednesday when trainer Ted Martinovich saddled up Ascot winner Our Rocky Bay. He’s on a hat-trick for owners Martin Epis and Roy Harper who bred him in partnership with Geisel Park. His dam Joyeux (Lonhro) has a yearling filly by Awesome Rock named Jolly Oh and the mare was bred back to Rommel in October.
Always Awesome’s win at Pinjarra yesterday could herald another black-type addition for Awesome Rock with Searchin’ Roc’s and Cold Shizzle both accepting for the LR Bunbury Stakes (1400m) this Saturday. And Gold Front’s homebred speed-machine Acromantula (Written Tycoon) will give a good sight in the $350,000 Bluff Knoll (1099m) in Albany on Sunday.
