Barry Lockwood is hoping that his unbeaten colt Johnny Rocker can continue on his winning ways when he steps out again in Saturday's Tattersall's Life Members Stakes at Eagle Farm.
The two-year-old backed up his debut win at the Sunshine Coast with a dominant all-the-way performance in the Listed Oxlade Stakes (1400m) on Stradbroke Day, going to the line full of running under the in-form Samantha Collett.
The colt by Jukebox gave nothing else a chance in the 1300m affair a fortnight ago, so Lockwood is holding out hope that the rise to 1400m on Saturday won't be an issue.
“The 1300m didn't bother me – the wider barrier did,” Lockwood told Sky Racing.
“I was thinking ‘oh we could be in a bit of strife here and be stuck out on a limb', but 50 yards after the start, it was all over.
“We put the proviso in if he worked well this morning (Tuesday), which he has, and if he pulls up good today, we'll accept and go around Saturday.”
A field of 15 has accepted for Saturday's $130,000 event at Eagle Farm, and although Johnny Rocker has drawn poorly in barrier 11, he is expected to lead the field yet again.
Regardless of the result, Lockwood says that his son of Jukebox will head to the paddock for a deserved spell, before a trip south could be on the cards in the spring.
“He'll have a run here in Brisbane, and if he's still going well, we'll have a crack at the Run To The Rose and see where we go from there,” the trainer said.
“He's a horse that just shows enough. He worked with his half-sister last time and even though she's not a star – she had won a race at Eagle Farm, so she wasn't useless – and he just put her to bed real quick. It was easy.
“It'd be nice to have another 25 like him. He's done very well. He's not concerned about anything, he has no soreness issues – which sometimes happens with babies – but no, he's been fine.”
The Life Members is scheduled to jump at 3:13pm AEST, 40 minutes before the Group 1 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m).