Promising youngster lucky to be alive

ALTHOUGH “he did his best not to race”, well-bred freshman Rocknroll Runa is in a strong position to join his mother as a Group winner.

By Rock N Roll Heaven, the two-year-old is from Shes A Runa which captured the 2014 New South Wales Oaks for trainer David Kennedy.

Also prepared by Kennedy, Rocknroll Runa is the early favourite for Friday night’s Breeders’ Plate in Leeton.

“He did his best not to race, but I’m very happy with the way he has come up,” Kennedy said.

“As a foal he had a run in with a fence and the tendon pulled the cap off his hip, which makes his nearside hip look about four inches smaller than the other hip.

“Not long after that he got caught in fence on a day which was about 45 degrees and only lived because he was near a water trough and was able to keep drinking until we found him there…he is lucky to be alive

“He has the scares on his flanks from that one.”

To Kennedy’s delight, Rocknroll Runa not only made the transition to racehorse, he qualified for the Group Three by securing his heat in what was an eye-catching debut.

Driven by Jackson Painting, Rocknroll Runa scored by two-and-a-half metres from Malakie, with Good Cheddar This 22 metres away third in 2:01.9, with his time 2.4 seconds quicker than Im Lady Madeleine in the second heat.

The gelding has drawn barrier six – the outside of the front line – in the $30,600 decider, with Im Lady Madeleine to come from the back row.

“I was pleased with his run in the heat and he has come along in leaps and bounds since,” Kennedy said.

“He’s improved quite a bit and will certainly be better again in the Final.

“He can come off the arm well and is reliable so we will go forward at the start and see what those drawn inside him do.

“Hopefully we can get into a good position early.”