HE'D made a big impression with a big run from behind on debut to finish second, and in Sunday's Ballinger Transport Maiden Pace (1,730 metres) Rockslide was able to go one spot better.
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The Josh Turnbull-trained and Nathan Turnbull-driven Rockslide ($8) charged down inside runner Wiggle Wiggle Woo ($9.50, Trent Rue) to win by a neck, while short priced favourite Pay Me Smart ($1.70, Mat Rue) had to settle for third.
Winning driver Turnbull said the three-year-old A Rocknroll Dance gelding has been a surprise packet over his two career starts.
"I thought I'd just held on at the end there. I looked over at Trent's wheel trying to line it up with mine, but I knew my fella was pretty big so I thought I'd held on," he said.
"He ran a great race first up and came from well back in the field. It was a bit of an unknown what to do here so Josh said to probably press on a bit from the gate and sit outside them.
"He's surprised us. We trialled him a few times and he was a bit of a ratbag but he seems to have pulled his finger out and now he's doing a lot of things right."
The race was a messy affair, featuring several breaks and a strung out field coming into the home stretch.
Pay Me Smart led the field for home but couldn't go on with the job as Wiggle Wiggle Woo and Rockslide dash by her inside and outside respectively.
Rockslide got the nod over Wiggle Wiggle Woo in an excellent finish, winning in a mile rate of 2:00.8, while Strike With Joe ($11, Steve Turnbull) flashed home for fourth.