The star twinkles

There was a lot of expectation surrounding Rockstardom’s first start at Geelong (synthetic) on Tuesday, and although the handsome colt didn’t win, there was a lot to like about his solid fourth behind Éclair Surprise, also a first starter by Blackfriars.

While it may have been a cold winter’s day, the cameras were fixed on Rockstardom from all angles, just they were when he was sold for $1.5 million at the 2009 Inglis Easter Yearling Sales (see picture).

The first son of champion triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva has, by birthright, some hefty baggage to carry throughout his racing career, but the signs are promising.

Rockstardom, a flashy bay with a white blaze and four white socks – a print of his sire Galileo’s (IRE) sire Sadler’s Wells (USA) – was outpaced in the 1300m maiden before opening up in the straight once he got some clear ground. While he is a charismatic horse at any time, it is the enormous length of stride that catches your eye when he is in full flight – it’s a stride that will carry him a long way when the distances of his races are stretched.

Trainer Danny O’Brien is circumspect about the colt’s spring program. “I don’t expect him to be really competitive until he gets to 2000 metres or further,” he said.

The Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on October 30 is Rockstardom’s spring mission, although O’Brien is conscious that the big horse is in his first serious preparation that will be abandoned at the first sign that Rockstardom is not progressing.

While O’Brien believes Rockstardom, as his pedigree suggests, is a stayer, there will be a push, especially from the colt’s owners, to try to win a decent Group race at a trip shorter than 2000m to enhance the colt’s appeal as a stallion prospect in Australia.

However, Rockstardom’s true worth could be in the northern hemisphere where the progeny of Galileo are held in high regard and a Group 1 stayer at distances between 2000m and 2400m, and with a star pedigree, is stallion fodder for the major studs. Don’t be surprised if Rockstardom, if he is a genuine Group 1 staying colt in Australia, finds his way to England late in 2011 or 2012 in an effort to built his stallion profile.

Rockstardom is Makybe Diva’s first foal. She has a 2YO filly by Fusaichi Pegasus (USA), a yearling colt by Encosta De Lago and she is due to foal in September to More Than Ready (USA). Owner Tony Santic has selected Lonhro as Makybe Diva’s mate in 2010.