News

Super-quick colt is ready to Rock

21st Dec 2009

Daily Telegraph - Brent Zerafa - Sunday, 20 December 2009

MARK Kavanagh has produced some special racehorses in his time, but he has never worked with one possessing the raw speed of new superstar We're Gonna Rock.

It was no surprise that We're Gonna Rock (pictured as yearling prior to 2008 Easter Yearling Sale) was rated as the next big thing in Australian racing after a breathtaking debut at Flemington last Saturday.

Kavanagh, who generally likes to keep a lid on things when it comes to his horses, has no trouble labelling the lightly raced colt as the fastest horse he has put a bridle on.

Quicker than Blue Diamond winner Undoubtedly, zippier than super mare Divine Madonna and more toey than tearaway Caulfield Guineas winner Whobegotyou.

"None that I have trained have ever gone that fast," Kavanagh said.

"He is a pretty exciting animal. I did not think they could run those times."

We're Gonna Rock settled last in the small field in the Fiesta Star Handicap (1000m), with jockey Michael Rodd content to sit three lengths behind the second-last horse.

But when Rodd asked him for an effort 600m from home, three-year-old We're Gonna Rock simply exploded.

The colt reeled off scintillating sectionals that saw him run his final 600m in 31.82sec and gun down the previously unbeaten Marconi.

While it is hard to generally compare times as each race is run at a different tempo, on different tracks, over varying distances and with horses carrying different weights, the brilliance of We're Gonna Rock's debut performance is incredible when matched against star sprinter All Silent's win in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic at Flemington.

In what was regarded by many as the most devastating performance of the spring carnival, All Silent trounced the country's best sprinters with a similar last-to-first victory.

The more seasoned sprinter was timed to run his final 600m in 32.5sec, the last 400m in 21.71sec and the final 200m sectional in an amazing 11.07sec.

We're Gonna Rock, meanwhile, ran his last 600m in a slicker 31.82sec, 400m in 21.35sec and the final 200m of his race in an identical 11.07sec to All Silent.

Gary Crispe, compiler of the Australian Timeform Ratings, is yet to officially assess the performance of We're Gonna Rock, but he expects him to receive a high rating that is open to improvement.

Sired by Fastnet Rock, We're Gonna Rock was always going to be a solid sprinter.

With his maiden win now out of the way, Kavanagh has the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) in his sights - setting up a clash with Sydney's star three-year-old Denman at Flemington in early March.

The only disappointment is that Sydney punters are unlikely to see We're Gonna Rock in the flesh for some time, as Kavanagh all but ruled out a trip north during the autumn with stablemates Shocking and Whobegotyou.

"I will just let the dust settle at the moment," Kavanagh said. "He is a young horse who has only had one start.

"Yes, it was very impressive, but there is a long way to go. Plenty of horses promise plenty but do not deliver.

"There are plenty of gonnas in this world, lots of should haves, would haves and could haves. But many of those also turn out to be did nots. I would like to give him a shot at the [Australian] Guineas. Between now and then I am not too sure how I will go about it.

"I might give him another run and then a short break, but nothing is set in concrete.

"The only thing I can say is that it is highly unlikely he would go up to Sydney.

"I would prefer to give him a rest and get him ready for the spring."