Former Group One winner On the Rocks (NZ) (Alamosa) returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in over two years when he took out an open 1400m contest at Rotorua on Saturday.

Successful in the 2019 Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa, the seven-year-old son of Alamosa enjoyed the 4kg claim of apprentice Maria Sanson as he carried the luxurious weight of just 52kgs to his seventh career victory.

Co-trainer Pam Gerard was thrilled to see a stable favourite back to the form that saw him register wins in races such as the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) as well as his Group One triumph earlier in his career.

“We couldn’t fault him through his previous campaign, but he wasn’t able to compete at top levels under big weights,” she said.

“It had been a long while since he had 52kgs on his back. 

“He needs to get balanced and he doesn’t sprint, but he can extend, which can make it tricky when planning how to ride him in a race. When he can lengthen and gain an advantage he’s shown that he’s quite hard to peg back.”

On the Rocks was selected by Paul Moroney and purchased for $40,000, from the draft of Wellfield Stud, at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale. 

He has now won seven races from 38 starts and over $540,000 in prizemoney.