An impressive gallop between races in New Zealand on Tuesday has all but confirmed a place in the Rosehill Guineas for blueblood colt Rock `N' Pop."Providing he trots up well in the morning he'll fly out tomorrow and get into Sydney about ten o'clock at night," trainer Jason Bridgman told AAP.Rock `N' Pop worked at Matamata, covering 1200m in 1:16 and closing out his last 600m in 35.9s."It was good, strong work," Bridgman said.On pedigree alone, Rock `N' Pop will attract special attention in Sat
An impressive gallop between races in New Zealand on Tuesday has all but confirmed a place in the Rosehill Guineas for blueblood colt Rock `N' Pop.
"Providing he trots up well in the morning he'll fly out tomorrow and get into Sydney about ten o'clock at night," trainer Jason Bridgman told AAP.
Rock `N' Pop worked at Matamata, covering 1200m in 1:16 and closing out his last 600m in 35.9s.
"It was good, strong work," Bridgman said.
On pedigree alone, Rock `N' Pop will attract special attention in Saturday's Group One for three-year-olds.
His sire is Fastnet Rock, the Coolmore Stud stallion whose progeny have earned almost $9 million already this season.
Rock `N' Pop's dam is the 1993 New Zealand Derby winner Popsy and it took $NZ1 million to buy him at last year's Karaka sales.
"Obviously he's a stallion prospect so we'll be trying to fashion a CV for him," Bridgman said.
"Getting black type against his name in Australia is important and a race like the Rosehill Guineas fits into those plans."
Rock `N' Pop has won three of his eight starts and will renew acquaintances with Silent Achiever, his New Zealand Derby conqueror, at Rosehill.
His record already includes a Group One win in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and a third in the International Stakes at Te Rapa.
But Bridgman says it will be Rock `N' Pop's residual condition from the Derby that will be a key asset on Saturday.
"When Jimmy Choux went over and won the Guineas last year he did them for fitness I thought," the trainer said.
"In our case, we have been racing against Silent Achiever and both horses are rock-hard.
"Among the Australian horses it's going to take a natural stayer to beat us.
"Still, my horse has to travel and settle in ... that's going to be his biggest test."
Bridgman wants firm going at Rosehill for Rock `N' Pop, a Jim Cassidy mount, to turn the tables on Silent Achiever.
"Silent Achiever is top shelf but in the (New Zealand) Derby we were a bit inconvenienced by the slow track," he said.
"Definitely a decent track will help. Nothing worse than a dead to slow."
A capacity field of 18 runners is expected to accept for the Guineas, the second leg of Sydney's autumn triple crown for three-year-olds.
Besides Silent Achiever and Rock `N' Pop, New Zealand will also hold a strong hand with the Victoria Derby winner Sangster and Ocean Park.
Ocean Park turned in a Randwick Guineas eye-catcher with his closing midfield placing to Mosheen.