Aussie Rocks Races Into Melbourne Cup Folklore

AUSSIE Rocks has raced himself into Melbourne Cup folklore with a heart-stopping victory in the group 1 showpiece at Sandown Park on Saturday night.

In a race that had more twists and turns than a cheap garden hose, it was ultimately Aussie Rocks which stood tallest, landing the $650,000-to-the-winner decider to hand trainer Geoff Mitchell his biggest moment in 45 years of greyhound training.  

For Mitchell, it was Melbourne Cup glory at his second time of trying, having qualified his former star sprinter Remo Rubik for the final in 2009.

"Just totally unbelievable – completely lost for words," Mitchell told Racing.com directly after the race. 

"When I saw that he'd positioned third up the back I knew we'd be there. He's a strong dog and he just needed to hold the rail which he did.

Aussie Rocks arrives in time to claim the 2023 Melbourne Cup for Geoff Mitchell! What a race! pic.twitter.com/fJENAkur5G

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) December 2, 2023

"I rode him home from here behind the boxes. I didn't know if he'd get there but he did. This is what you get up for in the mornings and put all the hard yards in.

"It's all for moments like this but you're only ever dreaming, hoping."

Setting up an early lead in the final was a flying Idolize which captured headlines in the lead-up to the race having returned to racing at the highest level after whelping a litter of pups earlier in the year.

When Idolize led, there was trouble behind, with Mac's Damage and Aussie Rocks landing on the back of the leader, while race favourite Big Energy was moving into fourth after overcoming early trouble.

Turning for home there was less than a length between Idolize, Mac's Damage, Big Energy, Aussie Rocks and a rattling Make No Promise making for an enthralling finish.

And while Big Energy was mobilising out wide, it was Aussie Rocks along the fence which took the shortest way home and landed victory, scoring by half-a-length in 29.55.

Third was Mac's Damage while Idolize ran fourth ahead of Make No Promise which was lucky to stay on his feet when looking as if he was going to be right in the finish.

Aussie Rocks' Melbourne Cup heroics is the son of Aussie Infrared's first group race triumph.

In August, he finished a half-length second to Saige Tenniele in the National Sprint Grand Final at The Meadows.

AUSSIE ROCKS! pic.twitter.com/4pW5bJxVoo

— Sandown Greyhounds (@sandowndogs) December 2, 2023

"He deserves a big race," Mitchell added.

"Just so honest and gives his all week in week out. 

"I really thought last week's heat win was the confidence booster he needed here at Sandown because his best efforts haven't been here after falling here as a pup."

Showing the swings and roundabouts of racing, Aussie Rocks won his Melbourne Cup heat in 29.40, taking full advantage when race favourite Flying Zulu went amiss when going to the front.

A winner at 16 of his 37 starts, Aussie Rocks now boasts stake earnings of $767,000.