Rockburn's Hat Trick

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 840, 7 December 1929, Page 17

Rockburn's Hat Trick

REPETITION OF 1926 RECORD Pacer’s Chequered Career ROCKBURN, whose recent run of successes at Epsom have brought the ex-Australian gelding well into the lightharness limelight again, has had a varied career since making Auckland the land, of his adoption.

Like the majority of good horses that have at various times crossed the Tasman in search of quarry, Rockburn claims the high-class Australian progenitor, Rock Huon, as his sire. When first raced at Auckland by Mr. D. Brideson, who purchased him, Rockburn was stepped out at the trotting gait, and in his initial start, he was placed on a 4.47 mark. He made his bow to Epsom fans in the spring of 1925, but in his early essays he was not mentioned in the dispatches. Three on End for J. Shaw The Rock Huon gelding then signed on with J. S. Shaw, who found that better results could be obtained by putting the straps on him. In the autumn of 1926, Rockburn began to show something of his qualities, and taken to New Plymouth he won a 10furlong heat, after being defeated in the cup. The big race at Whangarei was his next mission, and off a 4.47 mark, he led the field home in 4.42 2-5. Mr. Brideson’s pacer was not done with yet, and Rockburn tackled the Thames Cun off a 4.40 peg, and home he rolled, tramping 4.37 4-5 for the two-mile trip, completing the hat trick for trainer Shaw. After this fine inningsi, the pacer was taken to Hawera, and placed on 4.36 in the big go; he failed to gain a place. The following season was a lean one for the Rockburn people, and in nine starts he only twice succeeded in getting any money, and the smallest portion at that. When he came along to tackle opponents for the 1927-28 season, the ex-Aussie was under the care of R. A. McMillan, and he commenced by running second to Nelson Tasker in a 10-furlong flutter at Epsom. A trio of outs and then the son of Rock Huon made a bold bid at the Auckland Christmas carnival, finishing a good third to The' Shrew and Native Prince, reducing his time record to 4.35 3-5. Two days later he went one better, acting as runner-up to King Pointer. Three more misses and out he went fqr a holiday. About: this period his trainer was experiencing trouble with the gelding’s legs, and after he gave some indifferent displays in the early stages of last season hi.s owner brought him home.

Later he was tried by A. J. Julian, but did not stand the preparation, and back he went to the Brideson selection at Mangere. Jim O’Kane’s Success Jim O’Kane next took a hand in the business and pottered the gelding about, finally getting him ready for the Thames fixture, where with J.O’K. holding the ribbons, he showed a fine return to form by winning the cup in 4.36 2-5 from a 4.39 mark. 1-lis next important start saw the Rock Huon representative heavily supported for the Te Aroha Cup, but he ran last. ' This year Rockburn was taken in hand by Sid August, and judging from recent happenings he has got the pacer right up to concert pitch. He showed up prominently on the opening day of the Auckland spring meeting, when he finished second to Explosion. On Labour Day he demonstrated it was no fluke, by landing a double—two mile and mile and a-quarter items, and in each case he finished with wonderful dash. When he stepped out on the first day of the Otahuhu fixture the other day, S. August drove his charge home a winner for the third successive time, and thus amother hat trick accomplishment is down to Rockburn’s credit. It may be a coincidence that immediately on the completion of his “three on end,” he was stoutly supported for a big race, and failed to get a situation, this being exactly what happened when he scored the hat trick for J. S. Shaw in 1926. It was a real classy performance Rock Huon’s son ;out up when he came from behind the field to score his last victory in 4.31, and while among the big guns on the final day he did not get in the money. Rockburn went a stinging good race and had he got clear earlier would have been hard to keep out of a dividend. It has been a creditable achievement on the part of August to get the pacer to such a high pitch, and if he can keep his doughty candidate up to the mark for the Christmas carnival, owner Brideson can look forward to picking up further plums. Strange to say, Rockburn again figures among the trotters in the Auckland entries, and he is evidently satisfying his party in his essays at the square gait.