Awesome Rock began a big week for Gold Front owners Alan and Sue Olive with a running double at Northam on Monday before striking again with Zaza Rock at Belmont on Wednesday.
The Avon Valley double was Awesome Rock’s third brace in a month which is a remarkable achievement for a young stallion from his first three crops. His winners Mr Bling and Be Awesome scored in maiden company over 2200m and 1600m respectively indicating they are on track for successful staying careers.
Mr Bling is trained by Donna Baillie and owned in partnership with Helen Rossiter. He was bred by Courtland Park’s Tony and Kerry Cockburn and is a half-brother to this year’s LR Bunbury Cup (2100m) winner Blazing Away (City Place). Their dam Malaika (Forest Falcon) had won a LR Pinjarra Cup in 2014
Be Awesome won at his second start for in-form trainers Grant & Alana Williams and looks a very promising type for Belhus Racing who bought him from Gold Front for $105,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions.
His NZ-bred dam Zarabeel (Savabeel) is one of three winners from a daughter of G1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Royal Tiara (Blanco).
Awesome Rock’s Belmont winner Zaza Rock (Photo / Western Racepix) also carried Belhus Racing’s blue and white colours to victory in the Quayclean Hcp (2100m). She was a $22,500 buy from Gold Front at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions and was winning for the third time in her last four starts yesterday.
“Belhus are great supporters and this is a mare on the rise,” trainer Trevor Andrews predicted. “She relaxed from an awkward draw today and quickened nicely for Shaun (O’Donnell) who rode a patient race.”
Andrews will nominate Zaza Rock to back up in the Toodyay Cup (2200m) at Belmont next Monday.
She’s the second foal from Zadar Miss (Husson) and is a full-sister to 2022 Apprentices Cup (2100m) winner Zadar Rock.
Gold Front’s winning run can go to another level on Friday week, September 29, when Acromantula lines up in the G1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley. The Written Tycoon flyer is a homebred for Alan & Sue Olive and was a Listed winner of the Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at his penultimate start at The Valley.
The Gold Front couple also have Awesome Rock 4yo Red Sun Sensation commencing his Melbourne spring carnival campaign in the LR Testa Rossa Stakes (1400m) this Saturday. He won the G3 Chairmans Stakes (2000m) at Morphettville in April and won’t be troubling the sprinters first-up at Caulfield.
“Rocky’s progeny are certainly doing us proud at Gold Front,” Sue Olive said this week. “It’s not too late to book your mare in with Awesome Rock by contacting us via www.goldfrontbreeding.com.au”
Awesome Rock has risen to fourth place on the WA sires’ ladder this week and he stands for $9,900 alongside Leonardo Da Hinchi ($3,000). Both fees (inc GST).
