While most of the focus yesterday was on the heats and preludes of the Nutrien Sales Classics at Menangle breeder Gary Crocker was also keeping a close eye on last night’s heats of the $100,000 Pearl Classic at Gloucester Park
At the inaugural Nutrien Yearling Sale Crocker sold Lot 18 for $31,000 to a group of owners being put together by gun young trainer Justin Prentice and he then bought back into the stunning colt.
By Roll With Joe from the former Western Australian mare Incendio, the colt is now named Rolling Fire and, having his first start since March, Rolling Joe won the third of last night’s heats rating a handy 1:57.8 for the 2130 metres.
Prentice trained all three of last night’s heat winners and all three were driven by Gary Hall Jnr and one suspects his choice of drives in next week’s final will be influenced by the barrier draw.
The first Group One pacing winner sold through the inaugural Nutrien Yearling Sale may well be at Gloucester Park with the Pearl Classic being run the night before the Nutrien Finals at Menangle.
While Gary Crocker, through his business Walk Proud Pty Ltd, doesn’t have a yearling from Incendio to offer this year but he will be selling a colt with a somewhat unique pedigree.
The colt is by Art Major from the broodmare gem Aratusa Lass.
He is the 10th foal from the mare whose ninth foal is scheduled to race as a 2yo in 2023.
Her eight foals currently of racing age have all won and include the likes of 3yo Australasian Breeders Crown winner Major Crocker p,1:49.4 $996,327, Adam Crocker p,1:51.3 $111,643 and Innocent Crocker p,1:52.1 $106,636.
If having a 100% Producing Dam isn’t reason enough to inspect this colt, his grand-dam produced seven foals and she too is a 100% Producer with all seven being winners with five taking sub-2:00 records.
Story Alan Parker Photo courtesy Hamilton Content Creators