Cover image by Dan Himbrechts courtesy of AAP Photos
Rocha Clock is a filly with a mind of her own and while she’s proved a handful for all concerned, the 3-year-old’s connections are reaping the rewards for their patience and flexible approach.
She has won four of her six starts, including two at Randwick, and is on target to make her mark in stakes company for owner Jason Abrahams, principal of Champion Thoroughbreds, and his good friend and trainer John O’Shea.
They are making the utmost of a second chance with Rocha Clock after she initially came on their radar at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The filly was in the draft of Coolmore, with trainer Anthony Cummings signing for her at $200,000. That deal subsequently fell through and Rocha Clock was sent to New Zealand.
Rocha Clock as a yearling
“I liked her, but I didn’t have $200,000 and later on I saw her in the catalogue for NZB’s Ready to Run Sale. I called John and asked if he had liked her at Easter,” Abrahams said.
“I liked her, but I didn’t have $200,000 and later on I saw her in the catalogue for NZB’s Ready to Run Sale.” – Jason Abrahams
“He said he had, I had given her a good mark and so John rang Coolmore and we ended up doing the deal.”
Rocha Clock was being prepared for the breeze-up auction by successful vendor Janine Dunlop and Abrahams was then on the phone to the Phoenix Park owner-operator.
“I knew Janine as she has prepped yearlings previously for me and she said she thought we’d have a bit of luck with her. All the riders who had got on her liked her and she gave them a good feel and were pretty complimentary,” he said.
Following Rocha Clock’s most recent success at Randwick, Dunlop sent her congratulations.
“Janine texted me after the race and said well done and I sent one back saying tell your track riders that they know what they’re talking about,” Abrahams said.
“There’s a race in a fortnight that will suit her, she’s eligible for the Inglis Guineas over 1400 metres and the same day there’s a Group 3 for fillies and mares so we’ll probably nominate for both.”
Broodmare value
Rocha Clock will be a valuable broodmare proposition should she gain black type as she is out of the G2 Wakeful S. winner Rocha (Encosta De Lago), a daughter of the G1 Australian Oaks winner Larrocha (Danehill {USA}) who is a sister to the G1 VRC Derby winner and sire Blackfriars.
While she has been a work in progress and still has a way to go, Rocha Clock has displayed an abundance of raw talent and connections are happy to be patient with her.
“She’s been mentally immature and initially wouldn’t go in the barrier and wouldn’t jump,” Abrahams said. “She can be a difficult filly to handle at the best of times, but she’s obviously very talented.
Rocha Clock | Image by Simon Bullard courtesy of AAP Photos
“John has found her an interesting project. Sometimes she wouldn’t go out on the track and double-barrelled everyone. John was getting a bit frustrated, but I said just take your time and if it works out, it works out.”
When Rocha Clock finally did get to the races, it proved to be a false start.
“I drove two hours to Kembla Grange and John said she’d win, but she wouldn’t load up and ended up getting scratched,” Abrahams said.
“I drove two hours to Kembla Grange and John said she’d win, but she wouldn’t load up and ended up getting scratched.” - Jason Abrahams
“Then at Randwick once she tried to lie down in the wash bay and trod on a foot and there was blood everywhere. If there’s a problem to be found, she’ll find it.
“She’s a filly with a lot of quirks and always seems to be finding a reason for us to stress, but we seem to be getting it under control. John’s done a very good job with her and hopefully she can keep going forward.”
Rocha Clock | Image by Dan Himbrechts courtesy of AAP Photos
Rocha Clock’s latest success came off an unplaced effort when resuming in the G3 James Carr S. where the best laid plans came unstuck.
“She drew wide and on the maps there was no speed and they were pretty much all back markers. We had a wide gate so we thought she could cross the field and lead off a slow tempo and maybe get some black print,” Abrahams said.
“Unfortunately, half of the field had the same idea and it ended up being a fast pace and she just blew up in the straight. We decided to ride her colder last Saturday and re-educate her and she picked up the bit and did it all herself.”
