Stallion Review - Rocknroll Hanover
Rocknroll Hanover
With the 2014 North American breeding season nearing its end and the Down Under breeding season just three months away we will continue with our "A Stallion Review" series highlighting the stallions that are making an impact on the harness racing breeding scene.
Today we have produced an in depth review for the outstanding racehorse and sire Rocknroll Hanover p3; 1:48.3 ($3,069,093) who is now deceased but still has frozen semen available.
Enjoy the read.
BREEDING
By the outstanding Western Hanover stallion Western Ideal, 1:48 ($1,455,422) who has had a great stud career right from the start leaving nine millionaires, headed by Rocknrolll Hanover p3;1:48.3 ($3,069,093) along with such standouts as Vintage Master 1:48.4 ($2,160,753) Western Ace 1;48.4 ($1,891,133) Big Jim 1:49.1 ($1,541,924) and Always A Virgin 1:48.4 ($1,135,559).
His has sired $90,853,304 in stakes to date with 381 in 1:55 and a huge 44 in 1:50. As good a sire as he has been, it now appears as though he is going to be even better as a sire of sires.
In the 2013 North American season, Western Ideal along with three of his sons in RockN Roll Hanover, Always A Virgin and American Ideal were all inside the top ten on the two year old sires list.
From one of the greatest brood mares in history Rich N Elegant 1:56.4 ($96,244) Rocknroll Hanover is a brother to such standouts as Royalflush Hanover 1:49.3 ($2,182,205) Red River Hanover 1:48.4 ($1,394,626) Rustler Hanover 1:51($971,638) and Richess Hanover 1:53 ($557,537).
One daughter in Rye Hanover made her way to New Zealand and her first two foals are the smart colts in Rockin Roll Lad (9 NZ wins) and Blazin N Cullen who after winning nine in New Zealand is now three from four in Australia for team McCarthy with a best time of 1:55.5.
The grand dam of Rocknroll Hanover is the Abercrombie mare Proven Perfect who won a whole $153 and wasn't that much better at stud. Her best performer was Armbro Jug 1:55.4 ($104,388).
It is when you get to the third dam, the Shadow Wave mare in Shifting Sands 2:02.3 ($3,469) that you realize why Rich N Elegant was so good a producer. The number of top horses that trace to Shifting Sands runs for pages and pages and includes such top horses as Image Of Dawn 1:50.4, ($1,267,372) Enroute 1:53.4 ($753,768) Kettle Bee 1:51 ($585,437) General Knight 1:51.4 ($500,627) Summer Child 1:54.2 ($493,609) Happy Family 1:53.3 ($489,822) Lifetime Member 1:50.2 ($472,721) Incredible Art 1:50.4 ($452,479) SpunOut 1:52.3 ($427,274) Three Xs 1:52.1 ($407,887) Royal Match 1:53.1 ($401,854) Panorama 1:53.2 ($379,010) and Mystical
Prince 1:50.3 ($335,293) to name just a few.
RACE RECORD
Rocknroll Hanover only faced the starter eight times at two for three wins and four placings for $688,275 in stakes. His best win was undoubtedly in the final of the ($1,211,800) Metro Pace in a brilliant 1:49.4 making him the first two year old to ever break 1:50. Another notable performance was his dead-heat for first in the ($113,243) Champlain Stakes in 1:52.3. After a good second in his heat of the Breeders Crown, he was scratched sick out of the final and that brought his two year old season to an end.
At three he turned into a monster. Facing the starter 18 times, he won twelve and was placed on six occasions, never missing a first three placing all season on his way to earning a huge ($2,380,818) in stakes.
His first big win of the season was in the $500,000 final of the New Jersey Classic in 1:51 followed soon after by a brilliant victory in the $1,500,000 North American Cup final in 1:49.4.
On a roll at this stage he then won his heat and the final of the $1,000,000 Meadowlands Pace, taking his lifetime mark of 1:48.3 in the final. Only third in the final of The Little Brown Jug, he bounced straight back with victories in the $141,800 Bluegrass Pace in 1:50.2, the $235,550 Tattersalls Pace in 1:50.3, the $136,400 Dancer Memorial in1:53 before finishing the season in style by winning the $555,000 final of the Breeders Crown in 1:49.4.
He retired from the track with the imposing record of 26 starts for 15 wins,10 placings and $3,069,093 in stakes.
Rocknroll Hanover - The Metro Pace
NORTH AMERICAN STUD CAREER
His first crop hit the tracks in 2009 and numbered 148 eligible to race. Four millionaires were to emerge from this crop including the outstanding Rock N Roll Heaven 1:47.3 ($2,774,478) as well as Put On a Show 1:47.3 ($2,459,903) Ticket To Rock 1:50.3 ($1,131,163) and Rock N Soul 1:49.4 ($1,119,767). With 50 $100,000 winners and stakes for this crop totaling $23,252,019 with average earnings per starter of $192,174 and 13 under 1:50 he made the best possible start to his career at stud.
Rock N Roll Heaven - The Little Brown Jug
The second crop numbered 157 foals and they raced as two year olds in 2010 and while not as prominent as his first crop, they still racked up some impressive numbers. The best horse and only millionaire from this crop was Rocklamation 1:49.3 ($1,867,402) while Rollwithitharry 1:50.1 ($566,354) Rock To Glory 1:49.2 ($563,881) Pretty Katherine 1:50.3 ($536,565) and Abelard Hanover 1:48 ($506,467) were all well above average. With 46 $100,000 winners and stakes of $16,770,893 coupled with average earnings per starter of $124,229 and 15 in 1;50 showed that he was not a one crop wonder.
The third crop numbered 152 foals which raced as two year olds in the 2011 season and showed yet again what a potent sire he is. The headliner from this crop is the outstanding A Rocknroll Dance 1:47.2 ($2,441,164) while close behind was the hugely talented, Pet Rock 1:47 ($1,985,820) Simply Business 1:50.1 ($854,224) and Time To Roll 1:49.3 ($743,902) were others to shine from this crop. With 31 $100,000 winners to date and stakes to date of $13,326,045 coupled with the average earnings per starter of $108,342 and 8 in 1;50, it just cemented him in as one of the industry's all time elite sires.
The fourth crop numbered 137 foals and raced as two year olds in the 2012 season. Yet again for the fourth crop in a row he was able to produce another millionaire. This time it was I Luv The Nitelife 1;48.4 ($1,946,011) who shone through and she was well backed up by the likes of Rockin Amadeus 1:49.1 ($693,669) and Wake Up Peter 1:49.2 ($693,176). With 15 $100,000 winners and stakes of $8,328,609 coupled with average earnings of $73,058 and 8 in 1:50 this crop has carried on from the first three. As this crop is only just getting into its four year old season, those numbers will improve big time in the next 18 months.
The fifth crop numbering 140 foals raced as two year olds in the 2013 season. With the lack of money now in the New Jersey Sires Stakes, this crop has struggled to put the money in the bank like the previous ones even though they already have 15 in 1:53. Stakes to date early in this three year old season in 2014 are $1,922,543 and several such as Rock N Roll Xample 1:51.4 ($133,690), Fiyonce 1:52.4 ($127,789) and Rockingham Park 1:52.4 ($106,693) look more than capable of winning plenty of races by the end of the season.
So to date he has left 478 winners for stakes totaling $63,601,109 including eight millionaires, 145 $100,000 winners, an average earnings per starter of $107,434 with 44 in 1;50.
And those numbers will only get better as the younger crops work their way through their careers.
AUSTRALIAN STUD RECORD
His first crop via frozen semen numbered just three foals. One was a winner, Mister Rocknroll 2:00.1 ($24,298).
His second crop was smaller at just two foals and neither made it to the races.
His third crop which are now three year olds this season was a touch bigger at eight foals of which four have won to date including the very smart Yankee Rockstar 1;55.3 ($61,763) Ramplestiltskin 2:00.6 ($23,590) and Rocknroll Music 1;56.8 ($15,512.
His fourth crop are only two year olds this year and number just five but includes the nice filly, Miss Rocknroll 1:59.2 ($19,200).
He now has 141 yearlings on the ground via his first fresh semen season and 163 weanlings to follow that crop.
NEW ZEALAND STUD RECORD
His first crop via frozen semen numbered just 10 foals but it was some crop with six winners. The headliner without a doubt was the very talented Foreclosure 1:48.4 ($806,318) who was rejected for the New Zealand sales due to confirmation issues and ended up in North America while other talented winners including Mister Presley 1:54.1 ($227,419) Tatijana Bromac 1:54.2 ($191,945) and Rock On Precious 1:51.4 ($135,767).
His second crop numbered just four foals and included Rocknroll Lass 2:00.2 ($43,217).
His third crop numbered just three and includes the very talented Rocknroll Arden 1:54.8 ($141,568).
His fourth crop numbers just seven which are two year olds in the current season. Three have qualified lately including Arden Caviar Q1:59.4.
The next crop which are yearlings are his first by fresh semen in New Zealand and number 45 while he also has 36 weanlings on the ground. 47 mares were served by him in his final year at stud and are due to foal in the new 2014/2015 breeding season.
POSITIVES
He has a fantastic record since going to stud with eight $1,000,000 plus winners from his first four crops. Five of those $1,000,000 winners are mares which is a great advertisement for any stallion. His Australasian record with very small crops via frozen semen is outstanding especially in New Zealand.
NEGATIVES
It is hard to find many North American trainers with a positive view of Rocknroll Hanover due to what they perceive as attitude and gait issues which is really surprising when you look at his great record. A lot of his Australasian stock also have gait issues but have more than made up for that with an abundance of ability.
OVERVIEW
He is one of those stallions that polarizes people. You either love him or you hate him but in our view he has more than done enough to earn respect with a record second to none. Some do have gait issues but the strike rate of his stock is outstanding. He has several larger sized crops foaled via fresh semen set to race in the Southern Hemisphere over the next few years especially in Australia and that along with his two best sons Rock N Roll Heaven and A Rocknroll Dance both being available this season at stud Down Under means the influence of Rocknroll Hanover will be felt for years to come.
OVERALL RATING
9 out of 10
Rocknroll Hanover tribute
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