Rocking Force will make his campaign swan song in the Listed Straight Six at Flemington after having his race plans switched twice in the past month.
Unbeaten champion Black Caviar turned the seven-year-old’s campaign upside down she targeted his long range goal, the Group One Goodwood, two weeks ago while a wet track thwarted a back-up plan to run him in the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool on May 2.
Trainer Mandy Shillito said it was pointless clashing with Black Caviar in the Goodwood and while it was disappointing to miss the race she was confident Rocking Force could recapture his best form at Flemington on Saturday.
“It is going to be a nice track and he has drawn a good gate (four) alongside Stratcombe (three) so hopefully we can get in a nice spot following him and finish the race off,” Shillito said.
Rocking Force has hit flat spots in his two runs this campaign when seventh to Second Effort over 1000 metres at Caulfield on April 7 and fifth to Stratcombe over 1000 metres at Caulfield on April 21.
He has the advantage of meeting Stratcombe 4.5kg better on Saturday and Second Effort 2kg better.
Rocking Force’s best runs have been down the straight at Flemington where he won the Swisse Vitamins Stakes (1000m) on Oaks Day last year and dead-heated with Cascabel when second to Catapulted in the Group Three Standish Handicap on January 2.
Shillito said to help compensate for going without a run for a month, Rocking Force trialled at Geelong on the morning of the Wangoom which had switched him on for the Straight Six.
“He won the trial pretty easily and I think it boosted his confidence a bit,” Shillito said.
“He’s been much brighter and bit keener.
“Although it’s been a long time between runs he had a good enough blow after the trial and he’s had a couple of gallops since and pulled up pretty good.
“We missed the Goodwood but I’m pretty happy going to his race which is a much more even playing field.
“Pretty much everything in the race we have either beaten, not been far off, or meet better at the weights.”
Shillito said Rocking Force would have a break after Saturday to avoid the wet tracks and then get ready for the spring sprints.
A winner of five of his 22 starts, he has missed a place just five times in his career and is $15 to land Saturday’s Flemington feature.
Stratcombe is $3.30 favourite ahead three-year-old filly Shopaholic ($4.20) while Second Effort is on the fourth line at $12.
