Kempsey preview: Trainer John Shelton expecting strong showing from Hayley’s Rocket

John Shelton trained filly Hayley’s Rocket will step out at Kempsey on Monday with her The Kosciuskzo winning trainer expecting a bold performance.

Grafton icon and Kosciuszko winning trainer John Shelton

THE colours worn by one of the best milers of the 1980s could well be flying high at the final Northern Rivers region meeting of the 2024/25 season.

Monday’s wearer of Riverdale’s red, white and yellow silks is Hayley’s Rocket which is housed at Grafton by Kosciuskzo winning trainer John Shelton for close friend Brian Paine whose father, Ross, owned the aforementioned multiple stakes-winner.

Bought in New Zealand as a yearling, Riverdale won over $500,000 in prizemoney, much of which as a consequence of his Epsom Handicap-Ampol Stakes (now the Cantala Stakes) double in 1984.

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Riverdale also won the Warwick Stakes, Gosford Gold Cup as well as a triumphant ‘home town’ win in the Grafton Cup.

Brian Paine and wife Elizabeth together shelled out $14,000 for Hayley’s Rocket at the 2023 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

A daughter of Blue Diamond winner Written By out of a mare by Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Bradbury’s Luck, Hayley’s Rocket is bred on a rare double-cross of Geoff and Beryl White’s former crack colt, Iglesia.

The Paine’s would have been suitably buoyed by their filly’s eye-catching debut in a deep Super Maiden on the recent South Grafton Cup undercard.

FIELDS AND FORM KEMPSEY ON MONDAY

“I thought she went pretty good,’’ Shelton said. “She didn’t have a lot of luck in the run, she was caught a little bit wide most of the race and she battled on to the line.

“She’s got a good gate on Monday. There is a fair bit of depth in that maiden but she should acquit herself quite well.”

Shelton meanwhile has taken over the training duties of regally-bred former Goulburn resident Shine Like It Does whose value is well and truly ‘INXS’ of her current earnings of $52,100 given she is a grand-daughter of Dane Ripper.

John Shelton celebrates after winning the 2018 The Kosciuszko with Belflyer Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Shine Like It Does broke her maiden at Moruya on June 27 prior to her closing fourth in a Class 2 mile at Grafton on Ramornie Day when saddled-up by Goulburn trainer Lucy Longmire.

“It was a credible run,’’ Shelton said. “I don’t know what it is like on wet ground.

“Lucy left her up here for a couple of runs just to see what happens up here.

“She’s done well since she has been here and is coming back from a Class 2 to a Benchmark 58.

“She’s got a good rider (Luke Rolls) but she hasn’t drawn that well so we’ll just play it by ear.”

Shelton’s other runner on the final Northern Rivers district meeting on the 2024/25 season is three-year-old gelding Sources Link which lines up in the WIN Network Benchmark 58 Handicap (1450m).

The son of Team Hawkes’ Silver Slipper winner Headwater had his first five runs in Victoria under the care of Cox Plate winning trainer, Greg Eurell.

Sources Link turned in a new P.B when making his NSW and Shelton stable debut in a 1000m Country Maiden, also on Ramornie Day.

His Monday mission is the TAB.com.au Plate over 1250m.

“His run was good the other day, he just got run off his feet,’’ Shelton said.

“I thought he might be a little bit fresh but he looks like he wants 1200 or 1400m.

“We bought him as a second-hand horse out of Melbourne and he’ll pay his way I think.”

Sources Link will be ridden by Shelton’s former apprentice, Ben Looker, whose tally of winners for his old boss currently stands at 119 with almost 200 placings.

Originally published as Kempsey preview: Trainer John Shelton expecting strong showing from Hayley’s Rocket