Connections hoping for further success with Rochello
Sally McKay and her racing partners are hoping for further celebrations from their remaining time with genuine performer Rochello (NZ) (Highly Recommended).
The Ascot Park trainer is among the ownership group behind the daughter of Highly Recommended who has been in fine form ahead of Friday’s Riverton Rural Transport/Riverton Butchery Handicap (1200m).
“She’s racing really well, the best of her career really and it’s just a shame as our lease runs out at the end of the season,” McKay said.
“We’re only looking at Friday and maybe a run at Wingatui on May 31 and that’s possibly the end for us.
“She’s been a lovely horse to train, very genuine and just hitting her straps now.”
A six-time winner, Rochello has more recently put together a brace of victories and two placings from her last four appearances in the hands of Brett Murray who will again take the reins and has been instrumental in her run of success.
“She used to be quite a hard going mare, she’d pull like hell and leave herself as a sitting duck before she learned to settle,” McKay said.
“A lot of that comes down to Brett who has really clicked with her this season and now she might be on the pace but isn’t as aggressive as she originally was and she’s going terrific.”
Rochello has also developed a special affinity with Riverton where she has won three times with two over Friday’s distance and McKay is hopeful the mare can overcome a recent setback to advance her tally.
“She races very, very well on the course but unfortunately she has had a wee stone bruise,” she said.
“She is fit though and a couple of light days shouldn’t affect her too much. That’s the only hiccup we’ve had, other than that she’s as good as ever.”
McKay will also have Highland Fling and Industrialist in The Red Door/Uncle Bucks Second Hand Shop Handicap (1400m) with Archie Guy to run in the O’Connell Earthworks/Ruahine Dairies Maiden (1400m).
“Highland Fling won over 1400m at Riverton (two starts back) and we’ve got Donovan Cooper on him again, it is up in grade but shouldn’t be far away,” she said.
“Industrialist is honest and I’m pretty happy with all four of them.”
