The son of a stallion who didn’t quite make the grade, Anfield’s Rocket stepped up with aplomb at his first serious test at Turffontein on Saturday when he scythed through the middle to win the R250 000 Allied Steelrode Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes, and in so doing making it 4 wins on the trot.
Beautifully ridden by 19 year old Ludeim-sponsored apprentice Kaidan Brewer, Anfields Rocket took off and made up lengths over the final 300m to hold off a storming late challenge by Richard Fourie and the highly regarded Shoemaker.
Kaidan Brewer rides a perfectly judged race to get Anfields Rocket home (Pic – JC Photos)
The dogs have been barking about this fellow, but he still went off at 10-1 and had plenty in reserve to hold off the flying previously unbeaten Shoemaker (10-1) by a half length in a time of 85,56 secs.
Runner up behind Cousin Casey in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes last term, KZN raider Royal Victory ran a good race after a break to hold on for third a further 1,25 lengths back.
“Anfields Rocket was off the bit at the 1200m – and I was worried! It was Kaydan and my son’s call to drop him out – I thought we’d have him up with the pace. But it worked out – we are very happy as this horse doesn’t know what he is doing yet,” added an elated owner and trainer Grant Maroun.
Watch the replay:
Now a winner of 4 races with 1 place from 5 starts for stakes of R310 000, the winner was bred by Klawervlei from their retired stallion Coup De Grace (Tapit) out of the Galileo mare Milla’s Rocket, who won twice up to 1800m in the UK.
He was bought for just R11 000 off the 2020 BSA July Online Auction!
