3 minute read
Age shall not weary him.
They could very well be the words expressed by trainer Chris Gangemi about his stable star, Rock Magic.
Remarkably, the 11-year-old is in line to contest another campaign of racing, principally in two races he is familiar with: the Northam Stakes and Roma Cup.
The evergreen Redoute's Choice gelding won the Roma Cup consecutively (2017-2018) and the Northam Stakes in 2019.
Rock Magic took a positive step towards those two feature races after winning heat eight at Belmont trials today (Monday).
In the familiar hands of jockey Jarrad Noske, he was allowed to find his rhythm behind the four-horse trial before coming out wide on turning.
Under his own steam and without being fully extended Rock Magic worked home strongly and grabbed stable mate Floyd on the line.
Gangemi was delighted with Rock Magic's first official hit out since his third to Elite Street in last November's Winterbottom Stakes.
"It was exactly what we wanted and expected," Gangemi told The Races WA.
"He hasn't lost much, he may have lost a length or two because of his old age, but he still wants to be here and is very happy.
"He will have another trial in a fortnight and go to Northam and onto the Roma Cup.
"He had a good blow and as you know he is getting old and probably takes a bit these days, but he has another trial in a fortnight and will be spot on for Northam.
"He has the heart and attitude to still want to do it."
Meanwhile Cockney Crew signalled he was ready to bounce back after posting the biggest winning margin in heat 14.
Completing his second trial victory since running last in the Detonator Stakes (1800m), the Maschino gelding won by 10 lengths.
"The plan was always to give him two trials but after today I'm confident we are 100 per cent," McDonagh said.
"His heart rate is good and he wasn't even blowing. It was just a gallop.
"We need a little luck and touch wood we are on the right path.
"There is nothing planned for him, but he'll come back in a ratings race."