Rocking Force’s attempt to dump Mandy Shillito in the surf during a beach work-out has buoyed the trainer’s confidence ahead of the Group Three Standish Handicap at Flemington.
After a trip to Adelaide, Rocking Force was feeling flat but has perked up again and is one of the leading chances in Monday’s $200,000 straight-course feature over 1200 metres.
“He’s back to normal now,” Shillito said.
“We took him to the beach on Thursday and he was pretty bouncy again.
“He spotted a boat or something and when I gave him a bit of dig he pig-rooted and tried to drop me in the water so he is feeling pretty good.”
Shillito said Rocking Force was slow to recover from the Adelaide trip where he had a sleepless night before finishing third in the City Of Marion Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on December 10.
“He floated over fine but in his box at night he could hear the traffic and the noise of the city which he wasn’t used to and he didn’t sleep.” Shillito said.
Rocking Force started favourite and despite being bleary-eyed was beaten just 2-1/2 lengths by The Eighth Maker.
The consistent sprinter has only been out of the first three on three occasions in his 19 starts with his career going to another level this campaign.
His best of five wins was during Melbourne Cup week when he speared through the pack to beat Canali in the Listed Swisse Vitamins Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on November 3.
Canali and Cascabel, who finished fourth, are again among of Rocking Force’s biggest dangers on Monday.
“It a tough enough race again but at the same time he is up to it,” Shillito said.
She said barrier five would enable the gelding to take up a position just behind what looks like a hot tempo.
“We have got a bit of pace around us which should allow us to get a good spot,” Shillito said.
Topweight Catapulted (barrier two), Le Remas (three) and Canali (four) are all speedsters who can drag Rocking Force into the race.
Craig Robertson, who has ridden Rocking Force six times for two wins and four seconds, takes the reins from Steven King who is on holidays.
Rocking Force has been easy in TAB Sportsbet’s market drifting from $7.50 to $11 while Adelaide sprinter Stirling Grove is $4.80 favourite ahead of Catapulted ($5), who is coming off a failed trip to Sydney.
Trainer Richard Jolly said Stirling Grove had been set for the Standish and freshened since his last start second to Down Under Boy over 1400 metres at Flemington on November 5.
“He had a solid jump out last week and this is a nice race for him being half a kilo off the minimum and proven down the straight,” Jolly said.
AAP TURF
