Punk Rocker a class act!
By Peter Wharton
Cheviot mixed crop farmer and hobby harness breeder Emmet Daly and his son Sean, an Invercargill veterinarian, struck the jackpot when they borrowed the Falcon Seelster mare Ragazza Bromac from the late Bob McArdle.
Heza Punk Rocker (6) – winning the Ride High Vicbred Super Series (4yo Entires & Geldings) Final (Group 1)
(c) Photography: Stuart McCormick
The pair got involved with the Nevele R Stud principal through looking after Ragazza Bromac’s American-bred dam, Red Delite.
“She needed regumate for 100 days to hold her foals,” Emmet said. “We did that for him and she produced Ragazza Bromac and then Bob loaned us the mare to breed from.”
Ragazza Bromac, who was unraced, produced RR Sand Dollar (by Rob Roy Mattgregor) as her foal.
Her third issue, Cast No Shadow, numbered among his 20 successes the 2022 Inter Dominion Championship Final at Melton and the Len Smile Mile in 1:48.8 at Menangle.
“RR Sand Dollar raced against a vintage crop of fillies such as Piccadilly Princess, Golden Goddess and Dream About Me throughout her career,” Emmet said.
RR Sand Dollar won seven races and was 10 times placed from 36 starts for $77,169 in stakes and took a mile record of 1:55.5.
Retired to stud, RR Sand Dollar left Stillrocknrolltome (by Rock N Roll Heaven) as her first issue.
“She qualified and had three starts but bowed a tendon. She has a Sweet Lou filly and has gone back to him this season,” Emmet stated.
RR Sand Dollar’s second foal and only colt is the brilliant but injury-plagued four-year-old Punk Rocker, who is proving one of the best his age in Australia this season.
RR Sand Dollar (outside)
The Rock N Roll Heaven gelding put an exclamation mark on his career when he outgunned a top class field in the Group 1 $150,000 Vicbred Super Series final at Melton on September 14.
On a frigid night, Punk Rocker reeled off a 53.1 second last 800 metres and a 26.5 last 400 three and four deep to swamp his rivals in the home straight. He rated a career-best 1:53.3 for 2240 metres from behind the mobile barrier.
It was his third success from eight starts and lifted his stake tally to $96,005.
Punk Rocker was sold as a yearling by the Daly’s for $25,000 at NZ Bloodstock’s National Sale at Christchurch in 2021.
He had five starts as a two and three-year-old for two wins at Alexandra Park and a second before being sold for a reported six-figure amount to leading Australian syndicators Aaron Bain and Jamie Dunberger-Smith in June last year.
Luna Dolce (foreground) and Something Sanddollar
Since producing Punk Rocker in 2019, RR Sand Dollar has left a three-year-old filly named Luna Dolce and a two-year-old filly named Something Sand Dollar (both by Sweet Lou). RR Sand Dollar unfortunately died foaling Something Sand Dollar. Both are in work with respected Burnham horseman Jamie Gameson.