The David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained Heâs Our Rokkii is one of the headline nominations for the Frank Packer Plate 2016 at Royal Randwick Racecourse this weekend in Sydney.
He’s Our Rokkii could shoot for back-to-back autumn Group 3 wins in Randwick’s 2016 Frank Packer Plate this Saturday in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart.
The three-year-old son of Roc De Cambes hails from New Zealand originally, and comes off a winning Sydney debut from April 2 in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) over the mile.
Heâll step out over more distance for the first time on Saturday if accepted into the $150,000 Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) field, the race attracted a total of 16 early entries.
Co-trainer Dabernig is confident Heâs Our Rokkii can handle the extra metres, with the intention always to give him a shot at the staying distance.
“He’s had a great foundation for it,” Dabernig told AAP.
“He’s very fit and the way he covered ground and was still strong on the line last start, you would think it wouldn’t be a problem.
“He was bought with the intention of being a middle-distance horse.”
Also coming off a last start win are the Joe Pride-trained Authorized filly Sheilarized who saluted over the Wyong mile on April 7 by over four lengths and Old North for the Godolphin stable.
John OâSheaâs in-form Lonhro colt Old North made it three-from-six for his career on March 26 at Rosehill when putting one and a quarter lengths on Torgersen to win the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m).
He is proven over Saturdayâs distance then, which could prove a winning advantage in the Frank Packer Plate this All Aged Stakes Day.
Chris Wallerâs Pins colt Torgersen backed up from his Tulloch Stakes second to Old North on April 2 in the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m), but was outclassed over the mile and a half beaten over 13 lengths when 10th to the New Zealand-trained winner Tavago.
Torgersen drops back in distance and class then if Waller accepts him for the Frank Packer Plate this weekend.
Along with Old North, OâShea has also nominated for the stableâs Teofilo filly Asinara who is down in class on the back of a seventh behind Single Gaze in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in late March.
Another class filly in the mix is the Clarry Conners-trained daughter of Not A Single Doubt, Queen Of Wands.
She won two on the trot in March before stepping up in class for the Carbine Club Stakes on Day 1 of âThe Championshipsâ finishing one and a quarter lengths off Heâs Our Rokkii who she is set to clash against again on the weekend.
Zasorceress is also coming off a third at the track from April 2, Jason Warrenâs nicely-bred Zabeel filly defeated just over a length by Diamond Made in the Group 2 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).
See below for the full Frank Packer Plate 2016 nominations, the final field and barrier draw set for release on Wednesday.
Before then make sure youâre ready to access the weekendâs hottest racing markets by signing-up with Ladbrokes.com.au who will match your first deposit dollar for dollar up to $500 in bonuses when you quote the code BETBONUS!
2016 Frank Packer Plate Nominations
Randwick Racecourse â 16/04/2016
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11437 | ASINARA | F | 3 | John O’Shea | 77 |
| 2 | 0x51810 | AURORAâS STAR | F | 3 | Anthony Cummings | 66 |
| 3 | 5×13212 | COOL CHAP | G | 3 | Lee & Anthony Freedman | 70 |
| 4 | 9358×82307 | GOLD AMBITION (NZ) | G | 3 | Bjorn Baker | 80 |
| 5 | 16248×4121 | HEâS OUR ROKKII (NZ) | G | 3 | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 82 |
| 6 | 140×630695 | HIERARCHAL | C | 3 | Anthony Cummings | 67 |
| 7 | x51x652356 | MANHATTAN SON | G | 3 | Clarry Conners | 62 |
| 8 | 6x61x141 | OLD NORTH | C | 3 | John O’Shea | 87 |
| 9 | 77×424 | OâREILLYâS ANGEL (NZ) | F | 3 | Bryce Heys | 55 |
| 10 | x3346x5113 | QUEEN OF WANDS | F | 3 | Clarry Conners | 74 |
| 11 | 6L441x114 | RONG DOOR REGGIE | G | 3 | Matt Laurie | 69 |
| 12 | 862220×730 | SEA OF TRANQUILITY | G | 3 | Matt Laurie | 66 |
| 13 | 9x4421x531 | SHEILARIZED | F | 3 | Joseph Pride | 71 |
| 14 | 42229×9689 | TATOOSH | G | 3 | Paul Perry | 74 |
| 15 | 6211×88720 | TORGERSEN (NZ) | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 83 |
| 16 | 44×4633 | ZASORCERESS (NZ) | F | 3 | Jason Warren | – |