The Victoria Handicap is a stepping stone to what John Mcardle hopes will be a campaign of wet-track opportunities for El Rocko, but he is predicting an improved performance from free-rolling gelding this Saturday.
The seven-year-old son of Fastnet Rock will have his second start for the preparation in the 1400-metre Group 3 at Caulfield.
The miler with a liking for rain-affected ground failed to beat a runner home first-up at Caulfield on March 21, but that was over 1200m on a Good track and McArdle pointed out that not all worked out in the run.
“He needed the run and blew out on the dry track, but he looked as though he was going to hold his gallop and then he got bumped pretty hard,” McArdle said.
“For a horse as big as he is he’s a bit of a coward and when he got the bump he put the cue in the rack.
“He’ll head towards the Victoria Handicap and then probably back up the week later in the Vase.”
The $175,000 Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) will be run at Caulfield on April 11.
El Rocko won the Sale Cup and finished third in the Seymour Cup at 1600m last campaign, which took in 17 starts and ran all the way from February 1 through until the Kilmore Cup on November 23.
The gelding’s early runs this campaign are aimed at building a fitness base to have El Rocko poised to take up opportunities wherever they present throughout winter.
McArdle said the Group 3 Cummings Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 9 or some post-The Championships events in New South Wales were a possibility for El Rocko after his impending Caulfield assignments.
“If it rains somewhere, he’ll go there,” McArdle said.
“We give him a few runs to get him fit then just take him where there’s rain.”
El Rocko is among 29 entries for the Victoria Handicap with Group 1 winners Here To Shock and Desert Lightning heading the list of potential rivals.
The Victoria Handicap is one of two Group 3 races at Caulfield this Saturday, joined by the Easter Cup (2000m), which counts Bankers Choice , Immediacy , Plymouth , Benagil and Chris Waller’s Kiwi recruit Doctor Askar among 28 entries.
