Awesome Rock three-year-old set tongues wagging after his first race start at Belmont Park on Wednesday when taking out the Morley Growers Marker Handicap (1200m) in style.
Ridden by Clint Johnston-Porter, the gelding initially settled at the rear of his seven-horse field before circling his rivals from the 600m mark and levelling up to the leaders on straightening.
He clicked through his gears in a matter of strides and bounded away over the final 250m to extend his margin the further they went en route to scoring by more than five-and-a-half lengths on the line.
I’m Genevieve ($5.50) finished second, with Jimmy Angel ($6) a further two-and-a-quarter lengths away in third place.
Purchased by Pearce Racing for $55,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale, the exciting Rock Fest is a full-brother to Group 3 winner Red Sun Sensation and progressive stayer Rocking Society, as well as being a half-brother to Listed winner Chili Is Hot.
The Pearce stable hope to set the gelding for feature 3YO races over the coming season.