Riff Rocket Another Coolmore Raised Stakes Success
A homebred for Debbie Kepitis and her family through their Woppitt Bloodstock venture, Riff Rocket (3g American Pharoah x Missile Coda, by Smart Missile) stamped himself as a contender for the Group I VRC Victoria Derby when winning the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, Riff Rocket scored a commanding five and a half length win at his first attempt at a Black Type race taking his overall record to three wins from five starts with prizemoney topping $160,000.
“He’s gone to a new level after the last run in Sydney at Rosehill. That was a good run,” Waller marvelled.
“He did a good job here in the winter, and it was a lovely ride from James McDonald. He’s good at that, isn’t he?
“Naturally, he’ll go through to the Derby. Whether he has another city run or goes to the Geelong Classic, I’m not too sure, but I’ll have a talk to Debbie (Kepitis) and the family.
“I’ll talk to Lara, who manages the family’s horses. ‘Have a bit of fun’, is what they’ll tell me.”
Riff Rocket was foaled, raised and educated at Coolmore and is the first winner from two to race for the stakes-placed Smart Missile mare Missile Coda, who comes from the family of multiple Group winning sprinter Rain Affair.
Missile Coda was covered by Home Affairs last spring.
Riff Rocket is the 39th stakes-winner for the Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who shuttled to Australia for five seasons.