Rockstar Icon: Lingfield race review, interview with Sean Levey, plus the latest update from Oliver Cole
14 Aug 2024
Rockstar Icon took a big step forward from his Goodwood reappearance at Lingfield yesterday when finishing fourth in the Class 4 Handicap (14:45).
It was a glorious day down in Surrey and we were delighted some of Rockstar Icon's lucky owners [above] could make it to enjoy all the fantastic perks that come with winning one of our Owner for the Day competitions each time one of the club's horses is set to be in action.
The race plan was to adopt similar tactics which led to Rockstar Icon's win over course and distance on New Year's Eve, but unfortunately he missed the break slightly which meant that jockey Sean Levey had to roust him along to get him in a prominent position early on.
As they went around the first bend, he had a nice spot against the rail and was sat in third place behind rivals Purefoy and Shelbourne. As they hit the home straight, it looked as though he was going to shoot on by and take up the lead, but the filly Serene Seraph for Richard Hannon had a similar idea under James Doyle and she found plenty after coming off the bridle and was the first one to really lay it down to the rest of the field. James Tate's Ahlain was the only one who could match her, and the pair battled it out in the final 200 yards, with Serene Seraph eventually coming out on top. It looked as though Rockstar Icon would hold on for third, but Shelbourne fought back and snatched it in the shadows of the winning post.
The fourth place finish still landed Rockstar Icon's 10 Owners for the Day £490 in prize money to share, with each of them taking home a 10% share, and overall it was great to see him bounce back following his tough run at Goodwood just over a week ago.
WATCH: Post-race interview with Sean Levey
Check out what trainer Oliver Cole had to say on Rockstar Icon's performance below:
"Although he had a good blow after the race, I don’t think that was down to a lack of fitness, but instead could be more an indication that he’s not relaxed in his breathing at race speed. He could just be trying to do too much on a single breath, and therefore we may try him in a tongue tie to see if that helps him breathe better.
I am sure he is even better than his placing at Lingfield suggests. He had to use a little bit of petrol early on to get a good position, which may have cost him a place but nothing more, but as I say, on what he shows me at home, I am sure there is much more to come.
I think the seven furlongs trip is right for him at this stage, although that’s not to say he won’t get further in the future. The good news is he was absolutely great on Wednesday morning, he ate up, which is always a good indicator of a horse’s wellbeing, and he was completely sound, so we can keep him going, and he should be out again in a couple of weeks or so."
It was a glorious day down in Surrey and we were delighted some of Rockstar Icon's lucky owners [above] could make it to enjoy all the fantastic perks that come with winning one of our Owner for the Day competitions each time one of the club's horses is set to be in action.
The race plan was to adopt similar tactics which led to Rockstar Icon's win over course and distance on New Year's Eve, but unfortunately he missed the break slightly which meant that jockey Sean Levey had to roust him along to get him in a prominent position early on.
As they went around the first bend, he had a nice spot against the rail and was sat in third place behind rivals Purefoy and Shelbourne. As they hit the home straight, it looked as though he was going to shoot on by and take up the lead, but the filly Serene Seraph for Richard Hannon had a similar idea under James Doyle and she found plenty after coming off the bridle and was the first one to really lay it down to the rest of the field. James Tate's Ahlain was the only one who could match her, and the pair battled it out in the final 200 yards, with Serene Seraph eventually coming out on top. It looked as though Rockstar Icon would hold on for third, but Shelbourne fought back and snatched it in the shadows of the winning post.
The fourth place finish still landed Rockstar Icon's 10 Owners for the Day £490 in prize money to share, with each of them taking home a 10% share, and overall it was great to see him bounce back following his tough run at Goodwood just over a week ago.
WATCH: Post-race interview with Sean Levey
Check out what trainer Oliver Cole had to say on Rockstar Icon's performance below:
"Although he had a good blow after the race, I don’t think that was down to a lack of fitness, but instead could be more an indication that he’s not relaxed in his breathing at race speed. He could just be trying to do too much on a single breath, and therefore we may try him in a tongue tie to see if that helps him breathe better.
I am sure he is even better than his placing at Lingfield suggests. He had to use a little bit of petrol early on to get a good position, which may have cost him a place but nothing more, but as I say, on what he shows me at home, I am sure there is much more to come.
I think the seven furlongs trip is right for him at this stage, although that’s not to say he won’t get further in the future. The good news is he was absolutely great on Wednesday morning, he ate up, which is always a good indicator of a horse’s wellbeing, and he was completely sound, so we can keep him going, and he should be out again in a couple of weeks or so."
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