Cooksley's one ride a winner

JOCKEY Grant Cooksley made the most of his one ride at the Gold Coast this afternoon when he lifted Brisbane three-year-old Rock The Pac to a narrow victory.
Cooksley had commitments at Doomben later in the day, but was happy to ride Rock The Pac for Eagle Farm trainer Lindsay Gough in the Tradies Raceday July 21 Maiden Plate (2200m).
“With the early start here at the Gold Coast today I rang Grant to see if he’d ride this bloke here before he heads to Doomben and he was happy to come down for this one ride,’’ said Gough.
A three-year-old son of Rock Of Gibraltar out of the Galileo mare Jupiter Moon, Rock The Pac was lining up for his ninth career start this afternoon.
Rock The Pac ($2.40 fav)  led most of the way for Cooksley, fighting on to hold off King Of Florence ($5) by a short head. Seven Fifty ($4.40) was 5-1/4 lengths away in third.
Gough and the gelding’s owners then had to sweat out a protest hearing after Dale Missen, rider of the runner-up, lodged a protest alleging interference at the 1100m.
“We met a fairly ordinary field today and I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t been able to break through, but then we had a nervous wait during the protest hearing,’’ said Gough.
“We thought we’d be right, but when the margin is that close you always have to be a bit nervous.’’ 
Story: Neil Archer