Rock Me Rocco defeats 2022 Waterloo Cup winner to take 2023 Western Saws Cup
In an exciting turn of events, Rock Me Rocco, the coursing newcomer, triumphed over the reigning champion of the 2022 Waterloo Cup, He's No Slouch, during the prestigious Western Saws Cup held at Lang Lang this Sunday.
The prize, a hefty sum of $1265, belonged indisputably to the victor.
Donna Dean, the trainer of Rock Me Rocco, resides in the close-knit community of Nyora, a mere ten-minute drive from the famed ‘McDonalds Track'.
This victory has not only placed Rock Me Rocco on the map but also hinted at his potential to become a formidable contender for the upcoming 150th Waterloo Cup slated for August.
Remarkably, Rock Me Rocco, a product of the October 2020 litter from Barcia Bale and Dora's Hand, was participating in only his third coursing event.
It's worth mentioning that this victorious greyhound had also clinched the Elgas Maiden Dog title at the same Lang Lang location a mere fortnight ago.
A beaming Donna reflected on the race, saying, “Defeating He's No Slouch put a smile on our dial as he's such a star”
She further hinted at the possibility of Rocco's return for the Waterloo Cup, adding, “We may even return with ‘Rocco' for the Waterloo Cup”
With a sense of profound respect for the sport, Donna noted that coursing revitalizes them; “it gets their minds on the job.”
In spite of not feeling well, Donna made a last-minute decision to attend this historical meeting.
The event marked the 150th anniversary of the inaugural coursing meeting at Sunbury.
Undeniably, Rock Me Rocco's win served as the perfect remedy for Donna's ailment.
A devoted fan of coursing, Donna expressed, “I'll always be a coursing devotee.”
She elaborated, “It really perks them up if they're not putting in on the circle.”
Coursing refocuses their attention, and while not all greyhounds are cut out for the prospect of three ‘slips' in one day, coursing does brng out their innate chase instinct.
When it comes to her training approach with Rock Me Rocco, Donna employs a strategy that is both logical and straightforward.
Rock Me Rocco was sidelined for a few months due to a minor health setback involving a couple of floating bones in one of his toes.
Donna, however, remains optimistic, stating, “He's naturally strong, and I'm hoping he'll eventually extend his stride over more ground.”
Interestingly, Rock Me Rocco, bred and owned by Donna's daughter Rhiannon, a 25-year-old physiotherapist, is no ‘slouch' when it comes to circle tracks.
With an impressive tally of five wins, alongside three second places and six third places, from a total of 28 starts, Rock Me Rocco has graced a few finals at The Meadows.
Recently, he's also been competing over the middle distance on both metropolitan tracks.