Emotional Win for Hamilton-Smith with Rockaball NZ defying the odds

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The connections of Rockaball NZ after his win. Photo credit: Photography by Jodie Hallows

Michael Ferguson found himself with a driving double on the card, with the first leg of his driving double came up in race four when he drove Aussie Edition to victory for his dad, Brian Ferguson in the $10,000 RWWA Westbred Feature. First up after a short let up, the four-year old defeated the short-priced favourite by 2.8m, giving the four-year-old his second career victory.

The second leg of Fergusons driving double came up in race six when he steered home the Caris Hamilton-Smith trained Rockaball NZ, who was starting first up after a trial last week, almost two years since his last race start (698 days to be precise).

After a slight strain to his tendon at his last start, Hamilton-Smith made the decision to give the gelding an eight-week spell, but soon after resuming work, he stepped on a fencing nail in his paddock which resulted in the six-year-old getting an infection and requiring surgery and six-month box rest. The win was nothing short of emotional for the 29-year-old owner/trainer.

“I cried like a baby, he has been through so much,”

“The win has been the best one to date, I think.” Hamilton-Smith said.

What a night it was for Emily Suvaljko, with the in-form reinswoman driving three winners at Narrogin on Saturday night. Suvaljko is currently pulling away from her rivals for leading club junior driver at Narrogin, with the 20-year-old sitting on 38 points, 26 more than her closest competition.

Suvaljko’s successful night kicked off in race three when she donned the purple and green silks when piloting Triple Brie for Collie trainer Bianca Ashcroft. The consistent pacer broke through for the win on Saturday night, bringing up her fifth career victory in 81 starts. After being restrained early, Suvaljko put the five-year-old into the race with a lap to go, making her run three wide and getting to the front 500m from home, giving the Ashcroft family plenty to cheer about.

“Brie has been a good little earner for Bianca (Ashcroft). I was originally planning to drive her sit-sprint, but obviously plans change depending on how the race is run.” Suvaljko said.

“She went super. It was a really top drive by Em. She’s been knocking on the door for a while now, its such a great feeling when they run like that.” Ashcroft said.

Kay Jay Ar brought up Suvaljko’s second win on the night, with local trainer Jeremy Thornton preparing the double westbred mare to victory. The five-year-old has run second at her last two starts and started as the $1.95 favourite in race seven. After leading all the way from barrier one, she hung on for the win, winning narrowly by a half head in 2:03:2 over the 1823m journey.

The final instalment into Suvaljkos treble was with the Nathan Turvey trained Shakira Blue. The three-year-old filly started from the widest barrier on the front line and found herself in the breeze throughout, winning comfortably in the last at Narrogin.

Favourite punters were rewarded in the first, with Just American saluting first up since a change of stable, for trainer Brad Lynn and reinsman Mark Johnson. After leading all the way, the five-year-old was able to dictate terms, winning by 1.9m in 2:00:1 over the 2242m. bred and owned by Lynn’s brother Craig, the $2.20 favourite resumed after a short let up for the new stable, recording his second career victory in just 10 starts.

After knocking on the door last start, Bettor Class NZ was able to go one better tonight, giving Barry Howlett and Chris Voak the win in race two. Resuming last week after an almost nine-month hiatus from the track, the four-year-old was able to sit in the breeze throughout, winning by 4.6m in a mile rate of 2:00:6.

Matt Scott and Shannon Suvaljko joined forces in the stand with Gee Smith who was just too good for his rivals in race five. Starting off the 20m handicap, the race favourite worked his way to the lead after a lap and went on to win easily in 2:02:4 over the 2636m staying trip.

Ashleigh Paikos