Saloon start for Sirocco in New Zealand

Classcoroc gave Auckland based sire Sirocco his first winner at Pukekohe on Wednesday. The Te Rapa based filly scored a comfortable victory in the Saloon Bar & Restaurant Maiden (1600m).

Classcoroc (3f Sirocco – Class Torque by Masterclass) had been the subject of Australian offers after finishing fourth to Rock ‘n’ Pop in the LR Karaka Mile at Ellerslie in January but they were rejected by part-owner and trainer Graham Hughes.

Her dam Class Torque died after foaling to Elusive City in 2010. Her half-brother Smooth Sailing (Kinjite) was a LR winner in Malaysia and her half-sister Bird (Danasinga) also won at Listed level in the Warstep Stakes at Riccarton.

Sirocco (Arg) stands at Archer Park in Auckland. “Classcoroc only needed a couple of slaps from Jason Waddell to win by two lengths,” Cheri Archer said. She’s better on top of the ground and Graham told me he will set her for a stakes race next month.

“Sirocco has only had four runners so far but we’ve been hearing good reports about a couple of three year-old geldings that are just about ready to race. Obviously, he needs more starters out there to make the grade. He’s been supported by several breeders – none more so than Barbara Brough.

“Barbara stands Man Of Power at stud. He’s by Redoute’s Choice from Mannerism but she’s still backing Sirocco.”

Sirocco represents the Blushing Groom sireline through Shy Tom and he won 7 races in Hong Kong for trainer Tony Millard. Among them was a victory over G1 winning Australian bred mare Elegant Fashion.

Archer stands him for a $1,500 fee at her Drury property which is just five minutes from Karaka.