New Zealand Group One performer Our Rokkii made the perfect start to his Australian career, shedding his maiden tag with ease at Benalla on Tuesday for new trainers David Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
Renamed He’s Our Rokkii in Australia, the son of Roc De Cambes raced wide throughout under a confident ride from Damian Lane and drew away from his rivals in the Westcourt Insurance - Shepparton Maiden Plate (1206m).
“Another couple of weeks work will really bring him on,” Hayes said. “His coat hasn’t come through yet.
“My horses usually trial a little bit doughy and come out of it and improve a lot. He raced a little bit dumb today but I was impressed that he could gather them in.”
Hayes will now look to step He’s Our Rokkii up to 1400m at Flemington at his next outing as he plots a course towards the Gr.1 VRC Derby at the same venue on October 31.
Winning rider Damian Lane was equally impressed.
“He’s a really nice horse,” Lane said. “I galloped him last week at Flemington and when they told me he was a maiden I was very surprised.
“He’s definitely city-class. I sat three-wide but I wasn’t worried because I knew how good he was.
“He’s still learning and when he hit the front he was a little unsure, but he’s going to be better for the run and better over a bit of ground too.
Originally trained in New Zealand by Cambridge horseman Mark Forbes, He’s Our Rokkii finished runner-up in the Gr. 3 Phoenix Park Classic in his second appearance before he ran fourth, after a chequered passage, in the Gr. 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.
