Stakeswinning veteran Rocking Force will be looking to bow out a winner this campaign after plans to give him a pre-spring break were postponed.
Trainer Mandy Shillito said Saturday’s Samson Handicap (1200m) at Sandown looked a winnable option for the seven-year-old whose best of three runs this preparation was a last-start third to Curtana in the Listed Straight Six (1200m) at Flemington.
“We were going to give a spell before the spring after his last run but decided to give him one more,” Shillito said.
“It was either this race, providing it is not too wet, or the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill next Friday.”
On Thursday the Sandown track was a heavy (8) but Shillito said she was happy to run Rocking Force on a slow (6) or better.
“It looks a winnable race for him if the track dries out,” Shillito said.
Big weights have anchored Rocking Force this campaign but he gets three kilos off on Saturday with the booking of apprentice Thomas Sadler.
“He drops to 56.5kg and I think he will go much better without so much weight,” Shillito said.
She said she was also keen for Rocking Force to be ridden for more pace at Sandown compared to previous runs where he has taken a sit off the speed.
“It might suit him better to be up there sitting outside the leader,” Shillito said.
The Samson Handicap has attracted only 10 runners including Stanzout who was a last-start fourth to Black Caviar in Adelaide’s Group One Goodwood on May 12.
