Some troubles in the breeding barn has led to Rock N Roll Chapel being brought out of retirement, and it looks as though there's certainly a comeback win in store if Saturday night's sizzling finale is anything to go by.

The Joe Pace-trained-and-driven mare failed to get in foal from a couple of attempts, which led to connections exploring the idea of sending her back to the races.

She hadn't been seen in a competitive event since mid-November last year, but returned in good style with a fourth placing in the www.donaldsracing.com.au Pace at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night.

Pace settled Rock N Roll Chapel back in the field from the barrier 10 draw and saved her for one run, allowing her to finish off hard out wide for an eye-catching fourth behind winner Sonny Weaver.

Visually it was impressive and the clock backed it up. The daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven ran a last half mile of 55.27sec and a final quarter of 26.92sec to be only beaten just over 6m on the line. Those sectionals were the third fastest of the night's nine-race card in both categories, with Willie Go West (Dean Braun) and Major Manbar (Leigh Graham) the only horses to run quicker closing splits.

"I was very impressed, especially because she hasn't run for four or five months," the Harkness-based Pace said.

"They went 1.54.1 (mile rate) and the quarters were 28(.7) down the back and 27(.6) home and she made good late ground. I was quite surprised."

Rock N Roll Chapel's biggest win came in the Group 3 Allied Express Tailamade Lombo at Melton in 2019, with her career record now at 14 victories and 27 placings for more than $160,000 in prizemoney.

WATCH ROCK N ROLL CHAPEL'S FOURTH PLACING AT MELTON BELOW:

 

WHERE TO NEXT?

Pace is expected to skip this weekend's meeting at Tabcorp Park Melton and aim for a race back there on May 8.

 

FASTEST FIVE

TABCORP PARK MELTON

APRIL 24

LAST 800m

WILLIE GO WEST - 54.52sec - 2nd THE ORIGINAL MALTESE PASTIZZI COMPANY PACE (1720m)

MAJOR MANBAR - 54.85sec - 3rd THE ORIGINAL MALTESE PASTIZZI COMPANY PACE (1720m)

ROCK N ROLL CHAPEL - 55.27sec - 4th www.donaldsracing.com.au PACE (1720m)

BONCEL BANJAMIN - 55.40sec - 1st CATANACH'S JEWELLERS PACE (2240m)

SPELLBOUND - 55.46sec - 1st ALLIED EXPRESS IAN DAFF MEMORIAL (1720m)

 

LAST 400m

WILLIE GO WEST - 26.53sec - 2nd THE ORIGINAL MALTESE PASTIZZI COMPANY PACE (1720m)

MAJOR MANBAR - 26.85sec - 3rd THE ORIGINAL MALTESE PASTIZZI COMPANY PACE (1720m)

ROCK N ROLL CHAPEL - 26.92sec - 4th www.donaldsracing.com.au PACE (1720m)

WOULD YOU MIND - 26.98sec - 4th THE ORIGINAL MALTESE PASTIZZI COMPANY PACE (1720m)

FYNN FROST - 27.20sec - 1st THE ORIGINAL MALTESE PASTIZZI COMPANY PACE (1720m)

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RUNNER-BY-RUNNER SECTIONALS FROM SATURDAY NIGHT