Taylor searchin’ for feature race double in Black Heart Bart Stakes
Top fresh record, in excellent form, adept on the wet and well weighted, there’s a stack of reasons why Searchin’ Roc’s commands attention at Belmont on Saturday.
Trainer Jim Taylor concurs and has high confidence his classy mare can land the second-leg of a feature double and close out the Belmont season on a high.
A month after claiming the Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m), Searchin’ Roc’s is favourite to add the Listed Black Heart Bart Stakes to her racing resume.
“She had a week out in the paddock with Idyllic Prince after winning her last race,” Taylor said on Tabradio.
“She’s had four weeks solid work and I had her very fit first up.
“When she had to run 1300m first up without a trial on a heavy track I probably nearly had her overdone.
“That’s why in the last 50m she drew away, but in running she was off the bit coming to the corner.
“For the 1200m we’ve kept her a little bit sharper.”
Taylor is an unabashed fan of Searchin’ Roc’s who is lucky to be alive let alone racing after a severe colic attack last year.
Since joining Taylor’s Bullsbrook stable, she pushed past $1 million in earnings after winning the Group 3 Peters Stakes (1500m), the Listed Farnley Stakes (1400m) and Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m).
Taylor said Searchin’ Roc’s lacks nothing in toughness.
“To win over a million dollars and have a big colic operation in between, she’s just a great, gutsy mare,” Taylor said.
“She just always gives her best.”
A daughter of Awesome Rock, Searchin’ Roc’s has raced on 26 occasions since making her debut for David Harrison three years ago.
Going forward, Taylor said he’ll be racing the six-year-old less frequently in the future.
“It’ll be very doubtful she’ll go to a handicap ever again,” Taylor said.
“I did the same with Idyllic Prince a few years ago.
“His last four years of racing he only raced at weight-for-age.
“Although we don’t have a lot of them, we’re racing four or five times a year earning good money.
“If we can keep her on a weight-for-age path with her all the better.
“We’ll probably go right through to the Gold Rush (1400m).
Belmont is currently a soft 5, music to the ears of Taylor with Searchin’ Roc’s having two wins and two placings from four starts on that track rating.
“She’s never been beaten on a heavy track, but it’s not going to get to that,” Taylor said.
“I don’t mind if it kept raining, she obviously goes alright on a good track, but the wetter the better.”
The Black Heart Bart Stakes contains a field of 14, with Searchin’ Roc’s to start from barrier eight.
Steven Parnham, who won the race aboard Lite’n In My Veins (2017), retains the mount.
Betting companies have Searchin’ Roc’s at $3.10, ahead of Frigid $6.50, Phanta $7.50, Aztec Ruler $8 and Laced Up Heels $8.50.
More Racing News
Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win
Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...
Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention
Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...
Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025
Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...
The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick
Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...
Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024
One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...
Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova
Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...
Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion
Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...
Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize
Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...
Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon
A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...
Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge
Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...