Christmas might come a day late for the connections of Roc Leone, judging by his five-length win at the Wingatui jumpouts yesterday.
The Steven Prince-trained 2yr-old, in the hands of Kylie Williams, took care of his three rivals over 600m yesterday on a dead track, backing up Prince's initial opinion of the son of Roc De Cambes.
The sixth foal of American-bred mare Backcountry will now head to Wingatui on Boxing Day for a 2yr-old 800m.
''The first day I had a ride on him, we were going three-quarter pace and I said 'wow','' Prince said yesterday.
''He's a natural - he's a beautifully actioned horse.''
Lucky Country (3 wins, $76,535) is the best performed of Roc Leone's siblings, and placed in the Welcome Stakes as a 2yr-old. However, Prince is keen to take his time with Roc Leone.
''We'll see how he comes through this, then there's a 2yr-old race on Boxing Day and then he's going out in the paddock,'' he said.
Prince expects Roc Leone to show his best on a dead track.
''It was probably right today with the sting out of it - you just have to be careful with his shins, but he's progressing really good.''
North Taieri trainers Brian and Shane Anderton produced five of the eight heat winners yesterday, with Fascinate impressing in her two-length win over a Raise The Flag-Delia 3yr-old.
The daughter of Falkirk and Zeperfluous had three starts in the autumn, including a fourth at Wingatui on April 10.
The 4yr-old will be back there next Wednesday, although Brian Anderton said he would nominate her and heat four winner Forever Vital for two races.
''Fascinate might run in that fillies and mares $12,000 race over 1400m. It depends on whether she'll get a run or not, so I'll nominate both for two and work it out from there.''
Satin Guru, a winner over 800m in 48.30sec, will start on Boxing Day.
''I don't think Satin Guru is forward enough yet,'' Anderton said.
Include, who stretched her record to seven wins from 12 starts with success at Cromwell on Sunday, will be seen next at Ascot Park on December 13.
''There's a [rating 85] mile there and then she'll probably have a break for a couple of weeks or so,'' Anderton said.
A start in the group 3 White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui on January 31 is another likely target before the team potentially looks further north.
''We haven't worked it out yet, but there's that Te Aroha [group 1 race on April 4] and those fillies and mares races up north so we might go up and chase a couple of those to try and help her as far as when she becomes a broodmare.''
Others to keep an eye on from yesterday include a Gallant Guru-Rosie O'Reilly filly trained by Dale Horrell. She hit the line strongly to down a Pentire filly in an 800m maiden heat.
Gallant Ruby and Hell Raiser were well clear of their two rivals in the 1000m open heat, and broke 1min for the 1000m.
