Potential is a wonderful thing in a horse; you never know when it is going to be fulfilled, and for He's Our Rokkii, Old North and Torgersen, it is what they will take into the spring.
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The trio were the first three over the line in the Frank Packer Plate at Randwick on Saturday, and there is enough from that result to suggest that in a couple of months punters will be supporting them in group 1 races.
It was He's Our Rokkii's day, as he stalked favourite Old North before sprinting away at the end of 2000 metres. It gave him the Carbine Club Stakes-Frank Packer Plate double and set him up for bigger things.
"He has always been a horse that we have thought quite a bit about, and he is finally showing it with a couple of wins," co-trainer Tom Dabernig said.
"We wanted to see him at that trip and he was strong at the end, beating a couple of nice horses. He is going to be better in the spring and we can go home and think where to go with him now."
He's Our Rokkii had sat three back in the running behind Old North, and when the pressure went for real in the straight, he was ready to pounce.
He went away for a 1¼-length win from Old North, while Torgersen was the same margin away in third.
"I didn't expect the favourite to be in front of me, but we had the perfect run in transit," He's Our Rokkii's rider Dwayne Dunn said.
"I just wanted to be up outside James [McDonald on Old North] in the straight and not let him put a length on me, and I got there easy without going for the throttle.
"He went away from him when I did. He is the sort of horse that is going to be better in spring with a bit more maturity, and he is certainly talented."
McDonald had been positive from the barriers to have Old North closer than usual, one out, one back, but the son of Lonhro did not handle the sticky Randwick surface.
"He struggled in the ground," McDonald said. "He felt like he was going to give you something in the straight, but he couldn't do it on that ground. He is the sort of horse that gives you four lengths when you ask him to go, and he only gave me one."
There might have been a concern with Old North at the 2000m trip, and Hugh Bowman indicated Torgersen would probably be better suited at a mile, despite running into third.
"He ran a good honest race but my feeling is the 2000m might be a bit far for him," Bowman said.
