Ted Soppitt stepped Calzaghe Rocky up to six bends to good effect at Sunderland on Friday.
Made an even-money favourite for the 640-metre open, the son of Diego Meister survived early crowding to produce a powerful finish off the final two bends that carried him to a two-length success over Hard To Bare in 40.00.
That complete a stayers’ double for the County Durham trainer, who had landed the earlier 640-metre contest with Calzaghe Lisa, who also started evens and defeated Jacksabullet by a length and a half in 40.06.
Soppitt’s Calzaghe George was odds-on to take the William Hill Standard, but he found Rock Me Kewell in irrepressible form, the Michael Hurst-trained son of Droopys Kewell making all to finish two and threequarter lengths clear of the favourite in 27.20 for the 450 metres.
