For John McArdle, the Victoria Handicap represents a pathway to a winter campaign rich in wet-track suits for El Rocko, with an enhanced performance anticipated from the free-rolling gelding on Saturday.
Second start this preparation comes for the seven-year-old Fastnet Rock progeny in the Group 3 1400-metre feature at Caulfield.
The rain-loving miler unplaced last at Caulfield first-up March 21 in the 1200-metre event on a Good surface, yet McArdle explained that the race didn’t unfold ideally for him.
“He needed the run and blew out on the dry track, but he looked as though he was going to hold his gallop and then he got bumped pretty hard,” McArdle said.
“For a horse as big as he is he’s a bit of a coward and when he got the bump he put the cue in the rack.
“He’ll head towards the Victoria Handicap and then probably back up the week later in the Vase.”
The Listed $175,000 Anniversary Vase (1600m) takes place at Caulfield April 11.
El Rocko secured the Sale Cup and third in the Seymour Cup at 1600m last time out, across 17 starts spanning February 1 to November 23’s Kilmore Cup.
Aim of the gelding’s opening runs this prep is to forge fitness levels that prepare El Rocko for wet opportunities through winter.
McArdle indicated post-Caulfield, El Rocko might target the Group 3 Cummings Stakes (1600m) Morphettville May 9 or New South Wales races after The Championships.
“If it rains somewhere, he’ll go there,” McArdle said.
“We give him a few runs to get him fit then just take him where there’s rain.”
El Rocko is nominated among 29 for the Victoria Handicap, topped by Group 1 winners Here To Shock and Desert Lightning as likely foes.
Caulfield’s Saturday Group 3 action includes the Victoria Handicap and the Easter Cup (2000m), with 28 entries like Bankers Choice, Immediacy, Plymouth, Benagil and Chris Waller’s New Zealand runner Doctor Askar.
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