Gold Front Racing & Breeding stallion Awesome Rock has a live chance for the Group 1 VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) with his homebred gelding Red Sun Sensation.
The Peter Moody-trained 3yo powered home from last on the turn to win a 1200m maiden at Geelong on Friday. With stable jockey Luke Nolen aboard, he scored by three-quarters of a length from Demon Award (Shamus Award) and Dakarai (Siyouni).
“I thought the 1200m might have been a bit sharp so I’m happy he won,” Moody said. “He’s what I would term a leading type for the Victoria Derby. He has furnished and come on well since his debut here in April.
“He was bred by Alan and Sue Olive in Western Australia and they retained him after the 2021 Magic Millions. We have given him plenty of time and that patience has been rewarded. It’s all ahead of him now.”
Moody knows what it takes to win a Victoria Derby. His first-ever Group 1 winner was in the 2001 time-honoured classic when Damien Oliver rode Amalfi (Carnegie) to victory at Flemington.
Luke Nolen revealed the stable had considered running Red Sun Sensation first-up over 1400m after a gallop at Pakenham last Saturday. “But with all the rain, it would have been more like a mile. We decided to stay at 1200m today and treat it like a trial. He was still too good for them and he has some real upside.”
Red Sun Sensation failed to make a $40,000 reserve on the Gold Coast just six months before his older half-sister Chili Is Hot (Gingerbread Man) won the LR Belmont Oaks (2000m). Their NZ-bred dam Society Gal (Faltaat) is an unraced sister to G1 Hong Kong Champions Mile winner Sight Winner.
Society Gal has a 2yo colt by Awesome Rock that was purchased by Jason Miller for $110,000 at the Perth Magic Millions in February. She was bred back to him on a September 1 cover last year.
Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock) was Champion WA second-season sire and Champion WA 3YO sire in 2021-22. He stands for a $7,700 fee at Gold Front alongside Leonardo Da Hinchi (Hinchinbrook) at $3,000.
