Roch ’N’ Horse might have looked a little “chubby” before her last start, but her steely focus has returned ahead of the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on Saturday.
Trainer Michael Moroney believes his six-year-old mare will bring her game face as a $31 outsider across betting sites.
“When she eyeballs them she usually beats them,” Moroney told HorseBetting.com.au.
In a racing fairytale, Roch ’N’ Horse won last year’s Newmarket Handicap as a $101 longshot.
Roch ‘N’ Horse has also faced some hurdles before this year’s edition, namely her weight.
But her conditioner believes she is now physically better for her 10th place last start in the Oakleigh Plate at Sandown on February 25.
“She did look a little fat and above herself, and she raced accordingly. But she did find the line and blew out the cobwebs because she badly needed to,” said Moroney, a 45-time Group 1 winner.
“That was why I wanted her to have the run. We went into the Newmarket pretty fresh last time, but this time we know she needed the run.
“Her work was very good on Tuesday. We did a little bit with her because she got pretty chubby this time around, and that blew out the cobwebs nicely.”
2022 Newmarket Handicap – Roch ‘N’ Horse (1st)
In Secret is the $4 favourite for James Cummings’ Godolophin stable heading into Saturday’s feature at Flemington.
But who can forget Roch ’N’ Horse’s incredible triumph in this event last year when barely anyone – except for Moroney and her connections – gave the mare a chance?
Those connections included part-owner Catriona Williams, who flew over from her Little Avondale stud in New Zealand.
Williams has been a tetraplegic after a shattering fall in November back in 2002 as a star equestrian competitor.
But that accident has not slowed down her passion for life, and her work as founder of the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Research Trust has been inspirational.
Indeed, Roch ’N’ Horse lifted in her presence to win last year’s Newmarket Handicap, and it still gives Moroney goosebumps when he recalls it.
“We went there thinking we had a pretty good chance. I know people around me didn’t think so, but I was probably more confident than most,” he said.
“Except for her owners – her owners were very confident too. And it wasn’t an easy flight for Catriona being in a wheelchair.
“But she was pretty confident. She made sure I put a bit of confidence into the jockey.
“The rest is history. I remember watching thinking ‘this can’t be happening’ and it did.”
Williams – also the head of communications marketing at Little Avondale – continues to inspire everyone around her.
In November 2010, she completed the New York Marathon, and in June and July 2013 she cycled to Everest Base Camp.
Then, in 2017, she teamed up with school friend Bron Kemp and husband Sam to complete the 90km cycling leg of the Wanaka Challenge.
“She’s an amazing human being. Just her passion for the whole thing and she’s been a great ambassador for racing,” Moroney said.
“She wasn’t a believer to start with – she was an equestrian rider who didn’t really like racing.
“She didn’t know anything about racing. Now she’s an avid lover of it.
“Her words were ‘if you can turn me into a racing person, you can turn anyone into one’.”
Moroney said he believed Roch ’N’ Horse – who has enjoyed a remarkable career with almost $3 million in prizemoney from 19 starts – could once again lift for Williams and defend her Newmarket Handicap crown.
She did that in stunning fashion when she beat short-distance stars Nature Strip and Giga Kick as a $20 outsider in last November’s Champions Sprint.
To again surprise the racing world at Group 1 level, Moroney said she would have to bring the same razor-sharp focus which saw her pull off an unforgettable triumph last year.
“I don’t want her to get too far off them. She’s got good gate speed and you can ride her anywhere,” the experienced trainer said.
“I’d prefer her to get a nice sit just behind the speed so she can eyeball the opposition.”
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