War Chant (USA) has Rockeby Road ready to make inroads after taking time to hit his straps with trainer Andrew Noblet at Ballarat.

At just his fifth start, Rockeby Road did things wrong and was still too good in the Brandt Maiden Plate (1500m) at his home track on Tuesday.  He’s a Yarradale Stud homebred raced in partnership with Noblet’s wife Amanda.

The rising 5yo was resuming off an eight-month spell and had to be ridden on one rein in the straight to edge out Coral Emperor (Star Witness).  They streeted the others by more than seven lengths.

“He was hot previously but has matured and come back in very good order,” Noblet said.  “He’s been working well and it was good to get a result first-up today.”

Stewards reported Rockeby Road laid in under pressure in the straight but that didn’t faze jockey John Allen.  “We got to them easy enough and then the leader kicked back.  He’s big and tractable even though I had to keep him off the other horse.”

Noblet prepared War Chant mare Silent Sedition to a Group 1 victory in the 2017 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley and he purchased Rockeby Road for $70,000 from Yarradale at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions.

His dam Rokeby’s Witch (Blackfriars) is closely-related to Peters Investments Group 1 winner Delicacy (SAJC Derby & SAJC Oaks).  She also foaled Noblet’s Sandown winner Witchfulthinking (War Chant) first-up and her latest is the Neville Parnham-trained Cauldron (War Chant).

An unraced 2yo, Cauldron won an early-season trial back in October for a partnership that includes Parnham’s wife Carol, Paul Cooke, John Del Basso and Mark Sestich.

War Chant (Danzig) stands at Yarradale for $8,250 alongside Gingerbread Man (Shamardal) at $5,500.  Both fees (inc GST).

Gingerbread Man sprinter Phanta won a Belmont trial on Monday in readiness for his return in the LR Bolton Sprint (1200m) at Belmont on July 22.  He was last seen when narrowly beaten by Angelic Miss (NZ) in a close finish to the LR Scenic Blast Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in January.

Yarradale stallions have a great strike-rate in recent Bolton Sprints winning it with Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man) in 2020, Valour Road (Frost Giant) in 2019 and War God (War Chant) in 2018.