Berkshire Rocco shows old sparkle in Fast-Track Qualifier at Southwell Berkshire Rocco returned to winning ways with a gritty display in the BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Conditions Stakes at Southwell this afternoon, a Fast-Track Qualifier for the £150,000 All-Weather Marathon Championships. Andrew Balding’s six-year-old was rated 116 after going down by a neck in the 2020 G1 St Leger and scored in the Listed Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot on his final three-year-old outing. The son of Sir Percy has been lightly raced since and returned from a year-long absence to contest two 12-furlong Listed races at Kempton Park in the autumn, latterly finishing fourth in the Wild Flower Stakes. Stepping back up to staying distances, Berkshire Rocco moved sweetly into contention under Jason Watson before wrestling the lead from Earlofthecotswolds and Solent Gateway at the top of the home straight. Rainbow Dreamer mounted a serious challenge approaching the final furlong but Berkshire Rocco found plenty to see off the 9/4 favourite by a length and a quarter, with a further eight lengths back to Earlofthecotswolds in third. Balding said of the 3/1 winner: “Berkshire Rocco has had his problems but we have had a really good run with him since he ran a nice race at Kempton last time. “This race was always the plan so that we could qualify him for Newcastle on Good Friday and, now that he has done that, we are looking forward to it. “I don’t know if he will run again beforehand. He is going to have a busy summer, so I would think probably not, and we will freshen him up now. “He travelled a bit kinder in the cheekpieces today, which helps, and he was a class horse back in the day having finished second in a St Leger. He is just a very decent horse.” Watson said: “A lot of credit has to go to Andrew and the team at home. Berkshire Rocco has had a few problems over the years but he was a really high-class animal and it is nice to see him coming back to form gradually. “A lot of respect has to be given to his owner Paul Spickett. The horse has had his issues and Paul has had to be patient, so I am pleased that he has been rewarded today.” About the All-Weather Championships Season 10 of the All-Weather Championships runs from Tuesday, October 18, 2022, and culminates with All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle on Good Friday, April 7, 2023. The six championship categories are: *Three-Year-Olds sponsored by News UK - 6f Final *Fillies & Mares sponsored by News UK - 7f Final *Mile sponsored by Spreadex Sports - 1m Final *Sprint sponsored by BetUK - 6f Final *Marathon sponsored by BetUK - 2m Final *Middle Distance sponsored BetUK - 10f Final There are two ways for horses to qualify for one of the finals on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle: * A horse can win a 'Fast-Track Qualifier' race which will ensure a FREE and GUARANTEED place in the corresponding final on Good Friday. There are four Fast-Track Qualifiers in each of the six championship categories hosted at racecourses in Great Britain, Ireland and France. If a filly wins any of the Fast-Track Qualifier races for either the Sprint or the Mile categories, the filly will be qualified for the final of that specific category, or for the Fillies and Mares Final. or * A horse must run a minimum of three times on the All-Weather surfaces in Great Britain, Ireland and France; or twice on the All-Weather surfaces in Great Britain, Ireland, France and once on dirt in Dubai or Saudi Arabia during the qualifying period between October 18, 2022 and the six-day entry stage for the finals (Saturday, April 1, 2023) and then be rated high enough to 'make the cut' in a final by order of its BHA Rating. In addition, prizes will be awarded to each of the All-Weather Champions - the 'All Stars' - based on the number of winners at the end of the All-Weather Championships season: Champion All-Weather Jockey (winner and runner up) Champion All-Weather Apprentice Jockey (winner and runner up) Champion All-Weather Trainer Champion All-Weather Owner For more information on the All-Weather Championships, please visit: For more information, please contact: Sam Cone Head of Communications and Public Affairs Arena Racing Company Office: 020 7802 5120 Mobile: 07920 404 296
