Pago Rock built on his impressive first-up statistics last start but it will be a winning sequence of another kind he’ll be out to extend on Saturday.
The David Hayes-trained Pago Rock made it five first-up wins from six attempts with victory at Caulfield on May 11.
He has another off-season start in Saturday’s $100,000 Sportingbet Handicap (1200m) at Sandown where he is unbeaten in two previous attempts.
Another win would confirm Hayes’ plans to target the five-year-old at stakes races early next season.
Pago Rock joined the Hayes team last year and his first-up win at Caulfield was his first succcess in four starts for the trainer.
A sprained ankle out of the Bobbie Lewis Stakes first-up last campaign meant he wasn’t seen again at the races for 35 weeks.
“He won well first-up and all the signs are that he’s held his form,” Hayes said.
“He’s got a good record at Sandown. I’d prefer it if he was on top of the ground, but he’ll run well.
“Hopefully he can win again and then I’ll ease him and have him for those early sprints next season.”
