Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Written by Paul Vettise
John McArdle has enjoyed a rewarding season so far with the younger members of his stable and is looking to secure further black-type autumn honours with promising colt El Rocko (Fastnet Rock).
The Mornington-based trainer has bagged stakes successes with the unbeaten pair of La Rocque (Kuroshio) and Tycoon Humma (Capitalist) and they are testament to the yearling selection criteria employed by McArdle and associates.
“So far, so good and we’ve always had a bit of luck with the 2-year-olds and we’ve got a good program in place. Both those fillies have done well and they’re in the paddock and we’re looking forward to them in the spring,” he said.
McArdle operates under the Redgum Racing banner, a partnership formed back in 2003 with Stable Manager Brent Clayton, and its next bright young prospect to step out will be El Rocko in the Ladbrokes 2YO Plate at Sale on Wednesday.
He gave a glimpse of his potential on debut in January when he finished runner-up at Sandown behind Anthony and Sam Freedman’s subsequent G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Artorius (Flying Artie).
“He’s a nice colt and will be a better 3-year-old with his pedigree and the way he is physically. He’s doing the job will go to the G3 Breeders' S. in Adelaide over 1200 metres and the G3 Sires’ Produce S. over 1400 metres,” McArdle said.
“He’s (El Rocko) a nice colt and will be a better 3-year-old with his pedigree and the way he is physically.” – John McArdle
El Rocko was bred by Bromfield Park who retained an ownership interest after he was purchased for $250,000 by Pacific Bloodstock and Redgum Racing at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale 12 months ago from Willow Park Stud’s draft.
El Rocko as a yearling
He is a half-brother to four winners, including Foxplay (Foxwedge) who was successful in the G1 Queen of the Turf S.
Their dam is the stakes winner Butters (USA) (El Prado {USA}) and a deep North American pedigree that includes the dual Group 1 winner Eliza (USA) (Mt Livermore {USA}) and G1 Florida Derby winner and sire Dialed In (USA).
“He’s got a great temperament and overall he’s a very straightforward horse to train,” McArdle said.
Early stakes strike
Stablemate La Rocque is a McArdle homebred who won first time out at Pakenham and then again made all the running to land the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Plate at Flemington with 1.5l to spare.
She is a daughter of the Bianconi (USA) mare Bianslick who is from the family of the two-time Group 2 winner Cliff’s Edge (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and further back in her pedigree is the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner All Along (Fr) (Targowice {USA}).
La Rocque | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Bianslick is also the dam of La Rocque’s barnmate and sister Archipeta Beach who won when resuming at Kyneton last month and will run at Sale in the Signtorque H.
Tycoon Humma was successful at the first time of asking at Bendigo and then got home strongly to win the Listed Festival S. at Flemington.
A half-sister to the G3 Proud Miss S. winner Humma Mumma (Denman), she was offered by Flinders Park Stud at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and secured by Redgum for $240,000, who went to $600,000 at the same auction earlier this year for Tycoon Humma’s half-sister by Zoustar.
