Trots Review: Zac finds ol’ time Rocknroll with breakthrough

A satisfied smile splashed across Zac Phillips’ face as the talented reinsman piloted the seventh winner on Friday’s night’s Tabcorp Park Melton card, his first home track win in just a tick under 12 months.

“Rapt to drive a winner back at headquarters,” Phillips said after saluting on Will I Rocknroll in the Allied Express Pace, breaking a Melton drought that stretched back to August 10, 2019.

And just 27 minutes later he had another, closing the program out with a win on Gatesys Gift for trainer Mick Hughes, matching John Caldow’s feat of a Friday night driving double.

“It’s great to be back, I’m very grateful that owners and trainers are giving me opportunities again,” Phillips said. “I had a few wins in the country, but been knocking on the door to get one here and it’s finally happened.”

The multiple Group 1 winning driver enjoyed a seven-month sabbatical from December to July, with the 24-year-old stepping away from the sport for his own freshen up.

“I have (worked with) horses my whole life. I left school when I was 15, did nothing else until I was 23,” he said.

“I didn’t want to go on and get 30 or 40 years down the road and think I wish I tried this, I wish I tried that. I thought I’m going to do it while I’m young.

“I loved it, I wouldn’t change what I did – it was the best thing I have ever done for myself – I really gave myself a mental freshen up. But the old saying the grass isn’t always greener on the other side is very true.”

Now back in the sulky and in winning form, Phillips’ Friday night victories would have been particularly pleasing, having rewarded two of his most supportive trainers.

Will I Rocknroll is a five-year-old entire trained by Rob O’Connell, who made it three wins on the trot when Phillips zipped to the front from the widest gate, handed up to Justice Served and then mowed down the leader via the sprint lane.

“You never want to be too confident, but my only worry through the (last) turn was don’t get him going too well and get over the top of a wheel. He just felt terrific,” Phillips said.

In the following race he then made a mid-race move on Hughes’ trotter Gatesys Gift to sit in the breeze for the last lap and dominated the COGS Trot.

“We were fortunate we were able to dictate the race from the death seat, he felt like he could have gone another quarter if I really wanted him too, which is really promising,” Phillips said.

“A lot of credit’s got to go to Mick (Hughes) himself, he’s a tremendous trainer of trotters. I’ve been fortunate enough to drive a lot of his trotters over the years and nine times out of 10 they are always well mannered, they just always seem to give you a beautiful trip.

“I know they haven’t gone any track record speed but he really gives you the feel of a really nice one.”