Prince Of Rock showed all of his grit and determination to deliver owner-trainer Daryl Crone and driver Tina Ridis a major career highlight during a special card of racing from Lord’s Raceway on Friday night.
The Wishing Stone gelding won the rich $125,000 Haras des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic (3YO Trotting Colts and Geldings) Final with a now-trademark front-running display.
Prince Of Rock had to work hard to find the early lead from barrier seven, but eventually wrest it from reigning Victorian 2YO Trotting Colt or Gelding of the Year The Locomotive and then held Wayne Potter’s multiple Group 1 winner at bay in the charge to the line.
In the end, he had nearly 2m to spare on the runner-up, with Stevie Gee getting home for third.
“I didn’t think I’d ever win a race like this, that’s for sure,” Ridis, 55, said.
“When Nathan (Jack, driver of The Locomotive) came up next to him I thought he was going to go right past him, but he felt he was there and he just fought on. He just keeps on going and wouldn’t let him past. It was super.
“He felt really strong tonight. Once we got the lead he settled a little bit, but then he just wanted to run.
“It just suited him and I thought we’re not going to die wondering, we’ll just keep on going and see how we go.”
Ridis was caught giving Prince Of Rock a little kiss during the TrotsVision coverage and admitted the result was a special one given all the hard work that had gone into getting the horse to this point.
“I love them all no matter what they do, but he got a special one tonight,” she said.
“Just the work we’ve put in and to win something like this is just unbelievable.”
Prince Of Rock had failed to run a place in six career starts before winning his maiden in emphatic style at Bendigo on June 23. He backed it up with a whopping 39.8m victory at his next outing before Nutrien heat and final triumphs to make it four on end.
Father-and-son trainer-driver combination Colin and Brett Holloway were also celebrating a special result when No Telling Heather landed the Haras des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic (2YO Trotting Fillies) Final.
With a number of runners making mistakes at the start, the daughter of Sebastian K capitalised by doing everything right and was just too good for David Aiken’s Maoris Mac, who made a late dive but could only get within 1.7m of the winner.
Colin’s wife and Brett’s mother Heather part-owns the juvenile squaregaiter along with her granddaughter Demi Candy.
Tradie Lady landed her first big-race success with a dominant victory in the Haras des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic (3YO Trotting Fillies) Final for Emma Stewart and Mark Pitt, while New South Wales trainer Blake Fitzpatrick teamed up with Greg Sugars to take out the Haras des Trotteurs Nutrien Equine Classic (2YO Trotting Colts and Geldings) Final courtesy of Valtino.
NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC
TROTTING FINAL WINNERS
$125,000 HARAS DES TROTTEURS NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC (3YO TROTTING FILLIES) FINAL
TRADIE LADY (Emma Stewart/Mark Pitt)
BAY FILLY 3 by TRIXTON (US) out of GLENFERRIE UNIXA FRA (ONYX DU GOUTIER (FRA))
Owner(s): TSR Racing Group, B J Prentice, JB Bruty, SG Gray, PB Buntsma, DW Widdison, ACS Smith, J White
Breeder(s): Yabby Dam Farms Pty Ltd
$125,000 HARAS DES TROTTEURS NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC (3YO TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL
PRINCE OF ROCK (Daryl Crone/Tina Ridis)
BAY GELDING 3 by WISHING STONE (US) out of YANKEE PRINCESS (MUSCLES YANKEE (US))
Owner(s): D G (Daryl) Crone
Breeder(s): J F Shaw, M B Shaw, L N Pangrazio
$62,500 HARAS DES TROTTEURS NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC (2YO TROTTING FILLIES) FINAL
NO TELLING HEATHER (Colin Holloway/Brett Holloway)
BAY FILLY 2 by SEBASTIAN K (SWE) out of ILLAWONG SHIMMER (MUSCLE MASS USA)
Owner(s): C W Holloway, H A Holloway, B W Holloway, D A Candy
Breeder(s): Alabar Bloodstock
$62,500 HARAS DES TROTTEURS NUTRIEN EQUINE CLASSIC (2YO TROTTING COLTS & GELDINGS) FINAL
VALTINO (Blake Fitzpatrick/Greg Sugars)
BROWN COLT 2 by LOVE YOU (FRA) out of ASPIRING EVA NZ (THE PRES CA)
Owner(s): E J Hill, G J Moloney
Breeder(s): Yabby Dam Farms Pty Ltd