Five-year-old mare Goddess Of Rock continued her impressive run of form with a second consecutive victory, claiming the Benchmark 68 over 2100 metres at Hobart on Sunday.

The win was the sixth of her 33-start career and capped a remarkable day for trainer John Keys, whose stable celebrated a Hobart treble before adding the prestigious Swan Hill Cup with Cartoon Graveyard.

With Keys currently enjoying a holiday in Thailand, stable foreman Scott Brunton was on hand to oversee the mare’s latest success. Speaking to Tasracing’s Matt Reid after the race, Brunton was optimistic about the mare’s immediate future.

“It’s good to see her string two together. There are no staying races on the turf coming up, so we’ll look at the 1800-metre events at Devonport on the synthetic,” Brunton said.

Bred in Tasmania, Goddess Of Rock is by former local stallion Toorak Toff and is the only foal from the Ferlax mare God To Provide. She has proven to be an outstanding bargain buy, having been secured for just $11,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale after being offered by Amamoor Stud, east of Hobart.

Her success adds further depth to a distinguished pedigree that includes Group 2 Shannon Stakes winner Washington Heights and Tasmanian Oaks heroine Masterkova.

For her enthusiastic group of King Island owners, the mare has already repaid their investment many times over. Sunday’s victory lifted her earnings beyond $129,000, and with her staying credentials continuing to improve, there is growing optimism that she can continue her rich vein of form through the winter months, with a switch to Devonport’s synthetic surface now firmly on the agenda.