Coolmore stallion Encosta De Lago took over at the top of the Australian sires’ premiership earlier this month and he went further ahead after Road To Rock claimed the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Road To Rock (5h Encosta de Lago – Trewornan by Midyan) has built a superb record at Randwick since winning the Listed Carbine Club Stakes in April 2008. His last four starts at headquarters have garnered a G1 win in the George Main Stakes, G1 placings in both the Epsom and Doncaster plus a G1 in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Road To Rock cost $100,000 at the 2006 Inglis Easter yearling sale when offered by Willow Park. His English bred dam Trewornan is a winning sister to Maisons-Laffitte G3 winner Central City. Second-dam Miss Silca Key (Welsh Saint) was a G3 winner of the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trewornan was imported to Australia in February 2001 and subsequently went through the Inglis Easter Broodmare sales ring in 2004 ($200K) and 2006 ($160K). The mare is now owned by Patinack Farm and she has a 2yo filly named Alexandrova (Snitzel) and a weanling colt by Casino Prince.
Encosta de Lago is gunning for a hat-trick of Australian titles this season and he went close to a G1 double when Sasa was beaten in a head-bobbing finish to the Champagne Stakes.
Coolmore announced Encosta De Lago will stand for a $143,000 fee this year, down from $220,000 in 2009. He had 41 lots average $300,854 at the 2010 Inglis Easter yearling sale.