Christmas came early for connections of Santa Rocks when she won the TAB Rewards Hcp (1550m) at Canterbury.

The Fastnet Rock blueblood was a $350,000 buy for Julian Blaxland’s Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA) and Paul Messara Racing at the 2013 Inglis Easter yearling sale.  She is raced by a syndicate that includes John Messara, Henry Field, Gordon Calder, Graham & Helen-Gaye Bax and Paul Favretto.

Santa Rocks had won a Bendigo maiden in July and returned to training with Team Hawkes in Sydney this season.  Backed in from $26 to $19 on Friday night, the lightly-raced mare was ridden a patient race by Brenton Avdulla before powering to the line over a length in advance of Baylie Louise (Onemorenomore) and Bracteate (Medaglia D’oro).

“She was very impressive,” Hawkes said.  “And it was an outstanding ride by Brenton.”

The city win boosted her value as a broodmare.  She is the first Australian foal of USA bred mare Aussie Christmas (Johannesburg) who is a half-sister to USA Group 1 racehorse and sire Harlan’s Holiday.

Aussie Christmas has a 2yo filly named Fujiwhara (Foxwedge) with Team Hawkes, a yearling colt by Snitzel and a Smart Missile colt foaled in September.

SANTA ROCKS