El Rocko’s first stakes win

27 Oct 2025

There may not have been a horse in Australia this weekend that was more deserving of a stakes win than El Rocko, who finally broke through at Listed level in Sunday’s Sale Cup.

 

Going into the race with eight wins and four black type placings to his name, including a last start third in the Listed Seymour Cup (1600m), El Rocko struck his favourite surface at Sale, with the track rated a heavy 9, and put his best foot forward under a great ride by Jamie Mott.

 

Jumping from barrier five of six, El Rocko went forward early and took control of the race, pulling away in the straight to win the 1600m contest by 1.75 lengths.

 

The $120,000 winning purse took the seven-year-old’s earnings to $827,000, a fantastic return on his $250,000 yearling purchase price for a loyal group of owners.

 

El Rocko, who was nicknamed Peanut as a foal by one of our staff members and has retained his name in the stable, is a son of the recently departed Champion Sire Fastnet Rock.

 

Out of the Listed winning imported mare Butters [USA] (El Prado), El Rocko is a three-quarter brother to Gr1 Queen of The Turf Stakes winner Foxplay (Foxwedge). 

 

He was foaled and raised at Willow Park for his breeders Bromfield Park, selling to his trainer John McArdle (Redgum Racing) and Pacific Bloodstock through the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2020. 

 

His $250,000 price tag seemed like a bargain in an unprecedented sale, that was pushed online at the last minute in the middle of the Covid pandemic, and is looking even better buying now!

 

El Rocko is the 43rd stakes winning Willow Park graduate and our third by Fastnet Rock, joining Gr3 winner Jazz Song and Listed winner Upon This Rock.