Rocky ready to roll
This gelding is highly unlikely to ever scale the exalted heights reached by the man after whom he is named, the brilliant Australian rugby flanker, but is certainly more than capable of taking this prize.
It has been a case of steady improvement for the son of Rock Of Gibraltar, who made a solid start to the season at Leopardstown 16 days ago.
He was the Oxx second-string on that occasion, with Berry aboard the trainer’s Behtarini, who went off a short-priced favourite.
Behtarini, however, could only manage fourth place, with Niall McCullagh guiding the selection to finish runner-up behind Tommy Stack’s Mister Carter.
Rocky Elsom only gave best nearing the end of that ten furlongs and dropping down to an extended mile now should work in his favour.
Jim Bolger too has made a bright enough start and his Majestic Dancer gets the vote in the Twilight Summer Racing Maiden.
The daughter of Danehill Dancer began life with a highly promising display at Leopardstown last June.
Well-touted beforehand, she went off favourite, but couldn’t quite hold the smart Elusive Galaxy in the closing stages, going under by a head.
Majestic Dancer wasn’t seen again until reappearing at the Curragh last month, taking third behind Blue Dahlia.
She had, arguably, her main danger now, Dance Hall Girl, a length and three parts and two places behind and can be expected to come on plenty for the outing.
Dermot Weld’s Bethrah, thrown in at the deep end on her debut when 10th of 20 behind Richard Hannon’s Lucky General in the Goffs’ Million at the Curragh in September, should find the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden much more to her liking.
