AQHA Magazine November/December 2017 AQHA_NOV_DEC_2017 WEBSITE | Page 33

their sire. When Traditional is crossed with a daughter of Morn Deck Q-2160, the resulting foals have proven to be magic, especially in barrel racing. One of his most famous foals is the incredible Rocs Rager Q-37465 "Rocky" who was bred by Santa Rio and foaled in September 1995 from Morn's Cleopatra Q-14445. Rocky was purchased by Darrell and Adele Edwards during a visit to Santa Rio in 1997. The first major event that Adele won on Rocky was the Junior Barrel Horse at the 2001 AQHA National Championships. Since then he was won over 70 open barrel races as well as placing on numerous occasions. Rocky has been named as the ABCRA Barrel Horse of the Year twice. This brilliant and powerful champion is a three time winner of the AQHA Fastest Time Award winner at the ABCRA National Finals Rodeo and is also the AQHA Super Challenge Barrel Race champion. Rocky and Adele took out both the Mt Isa Rodeo Barrel Race and Warwick Rodeo Open Barrel Race. At the 2007 AQHA Timed Event Super Challenge at the Moonbi Rodeo Arena near Tamworth, New South Wales Rocky was ridden by Adele to be crowned as Super Horse after winning the prestigious Barrel Race Super Challenge event ahead of Tyrone Money Spider A1-5582, by Morn Deck and ridden by Wendy Caban of Moree. These two horses were the only two to break the 16 second time bracket for the entire day, proof that impeccable breeding makes for great barrel horses. "Traditional Roc has made a huge contribution through his sons and daughters being winners in the arena and now breeding on to produce winning grandget," says ABHA President Adele Edwards. "Traditional's progeny standout because they are athletes, and they love their job," says Adele. "Traditional has sired so many wonderful Barrel Horses that it's hard to single some out but a few outstanding ones that come to mind are Rocs Rager, County Roc Q-37433, Roc N Billy Q-37828, Moon Roc Q-54752, and Rocs Olympic A2- 260." Jessica Morn's Q-42702, 2004 chestnut gelding Moon Roc, by Traditional Roc and bred by Darrell and Adele Edwards won the 2010 ABHA Moonbi Barrel Racing Classic with Adele aboard. In 2011 Adele rode Moon Roc to win the NSW Australian Barrel Horse Association Saddle Series Champion title after winning the 2011 Dubbo Classic, Tumut Classic and Moonbi Classic. Michelle O'Neill's Roc Away Q-37466, Ross and Jacquelyn Learmonth's Cowboy Roc Q-37829, Vern and Helen McVicar's Rocs Royal Cowboy Q-42792, Cathie Raaen's Trads Pharaoh Q-49136 and Cherie ODonoghue's Morn's Norwood Roc Q-51605 have all proven to be exceptional barrel racing horses by Traditional Roc. Another one carrying the famous bloodlines of Morn Deck is Maggie Morn Q-54922, who was ridden by owner Leanne Caban to win the 2009 ABHA Queensland Classic Saddle Series. When it comes to exceptional barrel racing horses by Traditional Roc, I can not go past Rocs Olympic (Dec.). This incredible 1993 chestnut mare was owned and campaigned by Trish Johnston and bred by Santa Rio from Olympic Morn. The duo placed second at the 2000 Mt Isa Rodeo from a field of 52 entries. They were the winners of the 2001 ABCRA NFR and Mareeba Rodeo. Rocs Olympic, who was known as Bonnie in the rodeo arena claimed victory and placed at to many rodeos Cowboy Roc Q-37829, by Traditional Roc. to mention. Ridden by Emily Learmonth. Photographs Ben and Michelle Makeham's Egyption Morn Q-32705 aka Bullwinkle is a son of Traditional Roc and from a daughter of Morn Deck, Morns Little Egypt Q-19163 and was bred by Mathea Usher at Santa Rio. Ben purchased Bullwinkle in 1997 from Adrian Hodges from Forbes at the age of three, with the thought of him becoming his new steer wrestling horse. As time went by Bullwinkle grew a little bigger than expected, so then he started training to become a Rope & Tie hor se instead. Ben started competing off Bullwinkle in Rope & Tie at rodeos in 2000, and then went onto win the National Rookie Rope & Tie title for 2001. By Kylie R. Melrose. Roc's Rustler (by Traditional Roc) Q-44134 & Ty Parkinson. Photographs ByKylie R. Melrose. After a couple of years roping, in 2002 Bullwinkle was then introduced to barrel racing by Michelle. At Easter 2009, due to injury Bullwinkle was retired from barrel racing, the event that he excelled and enjoyed. To this date Bullwinkle's earnings in rodeo are over $80,000.00. In 2010 Brittany McVicar rode Rusty Roc Q-56923, by Traditional Roc and from Morns Dutchess Q-43649 to win the NCHA Invitational Barrel Race held during the NCHA Futurity. Together, they won the first round of the 2011 Moonbi Magic Classic in a blistering 16.841 seconds. Jo Caldwell rode County Roc, a 1995 chestnut son of Traditional Roc and Morn's Sweet Chique to win the largest Ladies Barrel Race in Moon Roc (By Traditional Roc & from Jessica Morn, by Morn Deck) Q-54752 & Adele Edwards. Photographs By Kylie R. Melrose. November • December • 2017 • The Australian Quarter Horse Magazine • Page 33