Astute Victorian trainer Steve White will be chasing another group race victory at Albion Park after Red Rock – a litter brother of champion sprinter Sennachie – ‘snuck’ into next week’s Group 3 Golden Sands final (600m).

In an ‘ask no questions’ heat last night, Infrafred Lad ($4.40) was put out of business early and Red Rock ($3.70) also received significant interference. However, he eventually clung on to fourth place to make the final cut.

Race favourite Defy ($2.70) won the heat by three-quarters of a length from outsider Scanlon ($71,00), with It’s A Trick ($21.00) three and a quarter lengths away third in 35.21sec.

Sennachie has recently claimed the G3 Golden Ticket and G1 Gold Bullion, so a win for Red Rock in the G3 Golden Sands would make it a clean sweep of Brisbane GRC’s sprint and middle distance ‘Golden’ series for White, who hails from Buln Buln East in Gippsland.

Victoria’s sole entrant in the Golden Sands series, Red Rock had taken time to get over Brisbane’s humidity during the past couple of weeks. But he never got the opportunity to show his true colours, as White says he’s “right up there” with Sennachie in terms of natural ability.

And that’s come to light in recent times, with Red Rock obtaining wins under his belt against greyhounds the ilk of Rajasthan and Slingshot Hammer in his step up to the middle distance.

Red Rock has drawn Box 8 for the $40,000-to-the-winner Golden Sands final.

Meanwhile, the only other heat was taken out by Velocity Bettina ($3.50) who defeated local pin-up Bago Bye Bye ($2.90F) by three lengths, with Fran’s Bonus ($8.00) two lengths away third in 34.88sec.

Pawnote: TAB has already opened a market for the G3 Golden Sands final (600m) with Defy and Velocity Bettina sharing favouritism at $2.90, followed by Red Rock ($4.00) and Bago Bye Bye ($6.00).
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