Colt hands Sir Percy with his 22nd stakes winner
The ever consistent Berkshire Rocco (3 c ex Sunny Again by Shirocco) finally broke through at stakes level on Friday as the Andrew Balding-trained colt landed the Noel Murless Stakes (Listed, 1m6f) at Ascot and in so doing became former Rich Hill Stud shuttler Sir Percy’s (Mark Of Esteem) 22nd stakes winner.
Last seen finishing second behind Galileo Chrome (Australia) in the St Leger (Gr 1, 1m6.5f) last month, the three-year-old colt stayed on well under a confident drive from Oisin Murphy, to eventually post a head victory over Albaflora (Muhaarar). Without A Fight (Teofilo) finished another length and three-quarters away in third.
“He has been the bridesmaid in a couple of big races this year,” said Balding. “We were taking a bit of a chance, but we thought it would be nice to get his head in front and finish the year on a bit of a high. He has toughed it out, but he has been on the go a while.
“He probably wants better ground than that, so he has done well in the circumstances. He is a tough one, but I did think the filly was going to come and get him.
“I think he will be very effective over a strongly-run mile and a half. I don’t think he is an out-and-out stayer myself.
“He could possibly be a Hardwicke-type, but there are so many good options for horses like that. We will give him a nice, long break now and look forward to having a lot of fun next year with him.”
Purchased by Kern Lillingston Bloodstock for €35,000 at the 2017 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale, before being snapped up by his trainer €50,000 for 2018 Goffs Ireland Orby Yearling Sale, the colt is out of Sunny Again (Shirocco), making him a half-brother to Italian Listed winner Elisa Again (Champs Elysees).
Sunny Again herself is a out of Grade 2 winner Spotlight (Dr Fong), who is herself also the dam of Group 3 winner Projection (Acclamation).
Spotlight herself is out of Group 3 winner Dust Dancer (Suave Dancer), making her a half-sister to the dam of 2010 Phoenix Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) winner Zoffany (Dansili), Group 2 scorer Rostropovich (Frankel) and Group 3 winner Wilshire Boulevard (Holy Roman Emperor).
Berkshire Rocco’s half-sister - who is by Avondale Stud shuttler Time Test (Dubawi) - was purchased for £100,000 by Highland Yard at the Goffs Orby Sale on Thursday.
Sir Percy now resides exclusively at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket where his fee in 2020 was advertised as £7,000.
Brilliant ride!
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 2, 2020
It’s been a turbulent 24 hours for @oismurphy, but the champion jockey puts his best foot forward and wins the Noel Murless at @Ascot aboard Leger second Berkshire Rocco for @AndrewBalding2… pic.twitter.com/pva5i9c4nz
