Chris Munce’s decision to partner Top Of The Rock in her city debut has boosted trainer Michael Nolan’s confidence with the three-year-old at Doomben on Saturday.
Munce has ridden Top Of The Rock in three of her four starts but Nolan feared Brisbane’s leading rider may have preferred another mount in the Homestead Tavern Handicap (1110m).
Queensland’s premier jockey rode Top Of The Rock when she scored for the second time in four starts in a 1200-metre class one at Ipswich on November 4.
“The fact that Chris has decided to stick with her in her first Brisbane run has given me a lot of confidence,” Nolan said.
“I thought she would be a really strong chance had she drawn inside six but it will be a bit tougher from barrier 12.”
Nolan rates Top Of The Rock highly but admits he is testing the waters with her in the metropolitan arena.
“This is a big step up for her from where’s she’s been racing,” Nolan said.
“I’m keen to give her a chance in the three-year-old fillies races that are coming up and if she goes well in this, she’ll run in one of those races at Eagle Farm next month.
“Other than that there’s no plans for her. We’re just dipping our toes in to see what happens and if she wins we’ll be over the moon.”
Top Of The Rock is by Group One winner Easy Rocking out of Huntington Girl, regarded by Nolan as one of Queensland’s best broodmares.
Huntington Girl has been a prolific producer at stud and had just turned 21 when she gave birth to Top Of The Rock three years ago.
“Huntington Girl is one of the oldest and best broodmares in Queensland and has been a wonderful broodmare for her owners Michael and Peter Reeves,” Nolan said.
“She was 21 when she had Top Of The Rock and I think she’s still breeding.”
Huntington Girl has produced 11 winners from 13 foals to race including Dynamic Love, winner of the Group Two Stan Fox Stakes at Randwick in 2000, five-time winner Arimathea and Grouse Lane, a winner of nine races and the dam of of former top sprinter Princess Margaret.
Nolan trained Princess Margaret who scored nine wins including the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast in 2006.
Princess Margaret is also turning out to be a hit in her breeding career with her only foal, the Liam Birchley-trained Show A Prince, winning twice from five starts in Brisbane this year.
AAP TURF
