Stop The Rock set punters back on their heels when the El Roca three-year-old made a perfect start to his career at Warrnambool.
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Westbury Stud graduate came off a thorough trial and jump-out grounding to score over 1400 metres on New Year’s Eve at odds of 25 to 1.
Stop The Rock lobbed along in midfield and one off the fence before picking up ground near the home turn.
The gelding didn’t hesitate to take gaps between runners to score a decisive victory on debut.
Rider Will Gordon’s confidence was given a pre-race boost when he saw Stop The Rock in the parade ring.
“The horse looked fantastic in the yard, he was very fit and happy,” he said.
“It was a really good effort, every time he got a gap he exploded through and when he got to the front he had a look around, so he’ll improve.”
Stop The Rock was purchased out of Westbury Stud’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale draft for $75,000 by Patrick Payne.
He is a son of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Shezablonde who has now produced four winners.
She is a daughter of the stakes performed She’s A Pretender, by Danehill, who is a sister to the two-time Group 1 winner Nothin’ Leica Dane and three-quarter sister to his fellow sire, the G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner Duelled.
The Group 1 Levin Classic winner Hall Of Fame, also successful at Group 3 level in Hong Kong as Dances With Dragons, is another decorated member of this family.