Classic hero Berkshire Rocco ends the season on a high

After finishing a neck shy of glory in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster last time, Berkshire Rocco stepped forward to claim a first black-type triumph in the Teentech Noel Murless Listed Stakes.

Dictating at a moderate pace with ears pricked until well beyond halfway, the 1-2 choice was scrubbed along passing the quarter mile marker and kept on resolutely under forceful urging in the closing stages to hold the persistent threat of Albaflora in game fashion. ‘He ran fantastically in the G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, when he was second to Santiago, and he was second in the Leger on his last start’, said winning rider Oisin Murphy. ‘He is a really tough horse and I’m delighted he got his head in front. I would never question his attitude as he always tries hard, but he has been on the go since the Spring and has danced every dance’.

Andrew Balding added, ‘He has been the bridesmaid in a couple of big races this year and we were taking a bit of a chance, but we thought it would be nice to get his head in front and finish the year on a bit of a high. He probably wants better ground than that, so has done well in the circumstances. I think he will be very effective over a strongly run mile and a half as I don’t think he is an out and out stayer. He could possibly be a [Royal Ascot G2] Hardwicke type, but there are so many good options for horses like that. We will give him a nice, long break now and look forward to having a lot of fun next year with him’.

Berkshire Rocco was purchased as a foal at the Arqana December Sale in 2017.