Progressive three-year-old Stop The Rock has displayed an abundant mix of ability and tenacity in his brief career.
The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained son of Westbury Stud’s loyal servant El Roca emphasised those admirable traits when he accounted for his older rivals in testing conditions over 1600 metres at Swan Hill on Sunday.
The Gerry Harvey-bred Stop The Rock tucked in behind the leading division before picking up ground across the top.
He then lengthened stride impressively under the urging of rider Billy Egan to overpower his opposition.
“He’s only had the three starts so he’s got a good strike rate for a horse so early in his career,” he said.
“I let him build into the race and go through his gears and once into top he was too good.”
Stop The Rock was a debut winner on a firm deck at Warrnambool before Christmas and was then sent for a break.
He returned to finish fifth at Casterton last month and showed the benefit of that outing with a tough display on heavy ground at Swan Hill.
Stop The Rock was a $75,000 purchase for Patrick Payne out of Westbury’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstocks Ready to Run Sale.
He is out of the retired Fusaichi Pegasus mare Shezablonde who is out of a sister to the two-time Group I winner and G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Nothin Leica Dane.
She is also a three-quarter sister to the G2 Moonee Valley Vase winner and multiple top-flight placegetter Duelled with G1 Levin Classic winner Hall Of Fame also a decorated family member.