Top fresh record, in excellent form, adept on the wet and well weighted, there’s a stack of reasons why Searchin’ Roc’s commands attention at Belmont on Saturday.
Trainer Jim Taylor concurs and has high confidence his classy mare can land the second-leg of a feature double and close out the Belmont season on a high.
A month after claiming the Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m), Searchin’ Roc’s is favourite to add the Listed Black Heart Bart Stakes to her racing resume.
“She had a week out in the paddock with Idyllic Prince after winning her last race,” Taylor said on Tabradio.
“She’s had four weeks solid work and I had her very fit first up.
“When she had to run 1300m first up without a trial on a heavy track I probably nearly had her overdone.
“That’s why in the last 50m she drew away, but in running she was off the bit coming to the corner.
“For the 1200m we’ve kept her a little bit sharper.”
Taylor is an unabashed fan of Searchin’ Roc’s who is lucky to be alive let alone racing after a severe colic attack last year.
Since joining Taylor’s Bullsbrook stable, she pushed past $1 million in earnings after winning the Group 3 Peters Stakes (1500m), the Listed Farnley Stakes (1400m) and Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes (1300m).
Taylor said Searchin’ Roc’s lacks nothing in toughness.
“To win over a million dollars and have a big colic operation in between, she’s just a great, gutsy mare,” Taylor said.
“She just always gives her best.”
A daughter of Awesome Rock, Searchin’ Roc’s has raced on 26 occasions since making her debut for David Harrison three years ago.
Going forward, Taylor said he’ll be racing the six-year-old less frequently in the future.
“It’ll be very doubtful she’ll go to a handicap ever again,” Taylor said.
“I did the same with Idyllic Prince a few years ago.
“His last four years of racing he only raced at weight-for-age.
“Although we don’t have a lot of them, we’re racing four or five times a year earning good money.
“If we can keep her on a weight-for-age path with her all the better.
“We’ll probably go right through to the Gold Rush (1400m).
Belmont is currently a soft 5, music to the ears of Taylor with Searchin’ Roc’s having two wins and two placings from four starts on that track rating.
“She’s never been beaten on a heavy track, but it’s not going to get to that,” Taylor said.
“I don’t mind if it kept raining, she obviously goes alright on a good track, but the wetter the better.”
The Black Heart Bart Stakes contains a field of 14, with Searchin’ Roc’s to start from barrier eight.
Steven Parnham, who won the race aboard Lite’n In My Veins (2017), retains the mount.
Betting companies have Searchin’ Roc’s at $3.10, ahead of Frigid $6.50, Phanta $7.50, Aztec Ruler $8 and Laced Up Heels $8.50.