El Rocko adds more black type

01 Sep 2025

Our first stakes performer of the new season, El Rocko added further black type to his name on Saturday, with a game second in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield.

 

In the best form of his career, the John McArdle trained seven-year-old came into the race off back-to-back Caulfield wins and was making his first attempt racing further than 1600m since his run in the VRC Derby as a three-year-old.

 

El Rocko jumped in front and held the lead, putting a gap on his rivals in the straight and only being run down within 30m of the post. He finished second by just 0.75L to the multiple stakes winner Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot [GB]), reversing the placings of their previous start.

 

A winner of eight races and $685,000 from his 54 starts to date, Saturday’s second placing was the third stakes placing for El Rocko.

 

By Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, El Rocko is a half-brother to Gr1 winner Foxplay (Foxwedge), out of the American Listed winner Butters [USA] (El Prado).

 

He was foaled and raised at Willow Park for breeder Bromfield Park, before selling through the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $250,000.