Amah Rock will launch a belated autumn campaign at Moonee Valley on Saturday after trainer Peter Morgan abandoned plans to give the three-year-old a crack at the Australian Guineas.Morgan gave the promising son of Fastnet Rock his chance to make the Group One feature at Flemington on March 3 but decided the race was going to come too soon for him."We bought him in for the autumn and started doing a bit with him but it didn't look like he was going to be ready so we pulled the pin," Morgan said."
Amah Rock will launch a belated autumn campaign at Moonee Valley on Saturday after trainer Peter Morgan abandoned plans to give the three-year-old a crack at the Australian Guineas.
Morgan gave the promising son of Fastnet Rock his chance to make the Group One feature at Flemington on March 3 but decided the race was going to come too soon for him.
"We bought him in for the autumn and started doing a bit with him but it didn't look like he was going to be ready so we pulled the pin," Morgan said.
"We gave him a bit more time to mature and as it worked out he wouldn't have beaten Mosheen in the Guineas anyway."
Last spring Amah Rock had a meteoric rise when, 19 days after winning his race debut at Echuca, he landed the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on August 20.
A Group Three third to Karuta Queen in the Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) at the Valley and third to Instinction in the Listed Hilton Hotels Stakes (1400m) at Flemington confirmed his class.
He hasn't raced since finishing eighth in the Group Two Sandown Guineas (1600m) in November but he impresses Morgan who is open to Adelaide and Brisbane assignments for the gelding in the coming weeks.
"He has shown a fair bit of promise and there are a few good races for him interstate if he comes up," Morgan said.
He said Saturday's 1000-metre sprint for three-year-olds would be a good "pipe-opener" ahead of races over more suitable distances.
"I think he is probably looking for a little bit further than 1000 metres but we will see how he goes and take it from there," Morgan said.
He said Amah Rock, who finished sixth in a Cranbourne barrier trial on March 19, refamiliarised himself with the Moonee Valley track when he worked well there on Tuesday.
He has 59.5kg on Saturday but his job will be made easier with the 1.5kg allowance for apprentice Jake Noonan.
Craig Newitt and Steven King have been booked for Mick Price-trained stablemates Halle Rocks, who has won three of her four starts, and Werribee debut winner Tres Vite respectively.
Jamie Mott will ride the Leon Corstens-trained Snitzem who was a last-start third in Adelaide's Group Two Euclase Stakes (1200m) on March 12.