He’s Our Rokkii ready for Valley WFA race

After an encouraging season return, He’s Our Rokkii is an early favourite to land his first victory since last year’s spring carnival when he runs in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

Saturday’s Group Two weight-for-age race at Moonee Valley has a field of 11, with last year’s Group One Toorak Handicap winner He’s Our Rokkii to jump from the inside barrier.

He’s Our Rokkii resumed from a spell with a pleasing fourth in the Group Two PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at weight-for-age last month, won by Hartnell, and has already tightened from $4.20 to $3.60.

“He had a really good spring last year and then he had a flat autumn,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

“So then we just turned him out, reset him, and from his first-up run it looks like he’s come back to his old spring form.

“We’re really happy with him and think he’s a really good chance on Saturday.”

Hayes said He’s Our Rokkii had come on since the PB Lawrence for the step up to 1600m on Saturday.

“He’s drawn barrier one so you’d imagine he’ll get a good run and then just need a bit of luck getting out at the Valley,” he said.

He’s Our Rokkii won five-straight races spanning from the 2016 autumn carnival through to the Toorak Handicap last October.

He has been winless in his past six starts, including his four-run autumn campaign.

The Lindsay Park stable of trainers David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig has also accepted for Jacquinot Bay in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.

The veteran galloper was a late entry when nominations were extended, with connections putting him in after looking at the weather patterns.

“He enjoys a bit of sting out of the ground,” Hayes said.

The Darren Weir-trained Star Exhibit is on the second line of betting at $5 ahead of New Zealand Group One-winning mare Lizzie L’Amour at $6.50 and her Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Australian Oaks-winning stablemate Bonneval ($7).