Group One winner Im Rockaria will be a long way from home when he lines up at Albury on Friday night.
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The Western Australian pacer is coming off a fifth in a Victoria Derby heat last week and will take on the older horses in the Cleanway Pace (1720m).
Despite missing out on another Group One start trainer Michael Brennan was thrilled with the son of Rocknroll Hanover’s efforts at Melton.
“I was absolutely rapt and couldn’t be happier with the horse,” Brennan said.
“He got held up at a couple of critical stages and that cost him qualifying.
“That is racing, we move on and make sure everything is right going forward on Friday night.”
I was absolutely rapt and couldn’t be happier with the horse
- Michael Brennan
Im Rockaria has an imposing record of eight wins and two seconds from 13 starts.
Most of his racing has seem him utilise his good gate speed, but he won’t get the chance after drawing barrier eight.
Coming up against a strong field of C2-C3s, Brennan is hoping his class will prevail.
“It doesn’t matter where you goes these days it is always hard to win,” he said.
“You just have to hope his class gets him through.”
Daniel Jack will take the drive.
Brennan has raced at Albury before and doesn’t expect too many differences from some of the tracks in the west.
“He will be right,” Brennan said.
“He got around Albany and it is only a couple of letters difference and they are pretty similiar tracks.
“He smashed the track record two starts ago at Albany and gets around those tracks alright.”
Brennan has been based at Lemnos with former Riverina horseman Russell Jack.
Part of the reason for the trip to the Riverina was an attempt to claim a NSW Breeders Challenge bonus before heading home.
Im Rockaria won’t contest heats of the NSW Derby in a fortnight, instead the Olympic Gold medallist in hockey wants to focus his efforts on the WA Derby.
“When he didn’t qualify for the Victoria Derby, he missed out by 0.07 of a second, I couldn’t got him on a truck until next Tuesday and as he’s NSW bred I thought I’d duck up to Albury and try and get our bonus with him before we go home,” Brennan said. “Our derby is on in eight weeks time so I’ll take him home, give him a couple weeks freshen up and get him ready for our derby.”