Rockin’ With It set to switch on for Rockhampton Young Guns

By Josh Spasaro

Rockin’ With It knows exactly when to switch on, which is why Garry Cluse believes she can be competitive in the Rockhampton Young Guns.

Her shot at earning a spot in next week’s decider begins from box eight in the first heat over 407 metres and worth $3,400 on Wednesday night.

The two-year-old bitch was a comfortable winner over 510 metres in her past two starts at the Central Queensland venue and she has an impressive record of five wins from 16 starts.

The 82-year-old Cluse, who is based at New Moonta, west of Bundaberg, believes she is already smart enough to know when to flick on her competitive switch, and also when not to, which is often.

“She’s a beautiful bitch. She’s good in the kennels. She doesn’t do much work in the paddock,” he said.

“When you put her in the paddock of a morning and night, she doesn’t do any work herself. She’s one of those who’s just a natural galloper.”

Cluse said Rockin’ With It gets her strength from Group 1-winning sire Aston Rupee and her calmness from dam Punk Lass Rocks, who won seven from 67 starts.

“She’s very strong from her sire, Aston Rupee. And, he was very quick early,” he said.

“And, she’s got the traits of her mum down to a T. She just follows her mum’s footsteps.

“It’s a good demeanour. She’s not a hard worker in the paddocks, but when she gets onto the track, she’s a completely different bitch.”

Cluse said Rockin’ With It displayed plenty of tenacity to win her past two starts, saluting by a comfortable four-and-a-half lengths in her last race on August 3.

“She jumped and got to the lead. She’s one of those bitches who doesn’t give in,” he said.

“If a dog gets beside her she just keeps on going.”

However, the promising young bitch had the benefit of drawing box one last start.

She begins from box eight on Wednesday night.

“I wasn’t happy (with the box draw), but what you get you get. You can’t do much about it,” Cluse said.

Cluse said Rockin’ With It had already displayed impressive mental toughness to overcome an early injury setback and this attitude would help her when starting from under the outside lid in her Young Guns heat.

“I expect a lot from her. She got hurt at Rockhampton and we gave her three months off,” he said.

“She’s come back a better bitch than she was earlier.”

Cluse will also have two-year-old dog Dropping Gears start from the eight lane in the second Young Guns heat on Wednesday night.

“He likes to be in close from one to five. He won on Sunday night from five in the second-fastest time of the night,” the veteran conditioner said of his chaser who saluted in 23.81 seconds over 407 metres.

“If he can get around that first corner then he’s in with a good chance. It’s a tough race.”

Cluse added the first corner would play a big factor in whether Dropping Gears – with six wins from 20 starts – progresses through to the Young Guns Final next Wednesday night.

“I’ve got genuine hopes he can get through to the Final. Everything relies on that first corner, but he’s very quick out of the boxes,” he said.

“If he can get away on that first corner like he did on Sunday night, then he’s in with a real top chance.”

Like kennelmate Rockin’ With It, Dropping Gears is also blessed with a lean, strong and long physique.

“He’s a pretty well-bred dog, too. He’s by Hooked On Scotch and out of Aston Champagne,” Cluse said.

“She was a reasonable bitch. Not really over the top, but she was pretty reasonable. Physically he looks immaculate. He’s a big, strong dog.”

Cluse is hopeful of a bright future and possibly over further ground for Dropping Gears.

“We were going to push him up to 500 metres, but we’ve held back,” he said.

“We’ll give him a couple more hard runs and then we’ll decide where we go.”