Trainer Patrick Shaw breathed a huge sigh of relief when Rocket Man made a triumphant return to the racetrack in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A over 1200m on Sunday.
Singapore’s champion sprinter was making his long awaited return to racing following an injury enforced lay-off.
Rocket Man was sidelined in June with a condylar fracture of the off-side cannon bone which was subsequently operated on with screws inserted.
Ridden by regular jockey Robbie Fradd, Rocket Man was untroubled to score by four-and-a-half lengths over Switchblade (Oscar Chavez) with Perfect Sky (Ronnie Stewart) a half-length away third.
Robbie Fradd and Rocket Man make a triumphant return.
Shaw had been a bundle of nerves in the lead-up to Sunday’s race and was one happy man when his champion came through the race unscathed.
“Thank goodness for sedatives,” joked Shaw. “It has been a nerve wrecking week waiting for this race to come about.
“I am glad it is all over with now. I just hope now when he cools off that everything is OK.
“He is still quite hot, but so far so good.”
All the stable staff had been on tenterhooks waiting for the return of Rocket Man and Shaw’s assistant trainer Ricardo Le Grange said it took him a good half hour after race to get his nerves back in check.
“You can do all the work with the horse but you just never know with them,” said Le Grange. “This is one big relief to have this out of the way.”
Rocket Man was back to his usual self – putting on his raceday antics – prancing around the parade ring as he has always done.
But those raceday antics were missing at barrier rise. Usually a clean beginner, Rocket Man was a little slow to jump from the machine and received a heavy bump soon after the start.
“We would like to have him load last,” said Shaw. “He likes to have a look around at everything.
“When there is one upsetting him he will have a look. In an ideal world I would like him to go in last and then just concentrate on jumping away.”
Shaw said he would wait and see how Rocket Man comes through this race before deciding on the next step that has Rocket Man being aimed at the Group 1 US$2 million Golden Shaheen over 1200m on the Tapeta track at Meydan Racecourse on Dubai World Cup night – March 27.
After the Golden Shaheen, Rocket Man will return to Singapore for the Group 1 $1 million KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m on May 16 and a possible rematch with Hong Kong sprinter Sacred Kingdom.
One possibility being mooted for the gelding is the Group 3 $200,000 Merlion Trophy over 1200m on the Polytrack on March 12, although Shaw does have some minor concerns.
“He was having a good look at the light across the track today and the Merlion is run at night,” said Shaw.
“I don’t want him jumping the light at the finish so close to the race in Dubai.”
Rocket Man jumped the light at the finish when successful at his only prior start on the Polytrack almost 12 months ago and Shaw believes this was where his injury stemmed from.
Shaw praised the work of the veterinary surgeons at the Singapore Turf Club in getting his superstar back to the races.
Fradd said Rocket Man had matured during his lay-off although he reported he was a bit above himself at the barrier.
“He didn’t jump well at all,” said Fradd. “There were a couple playing up a bit and they caught his attention.
“But he recovered quickly from that he raced in his usual fashion.
“Everything felt really good with him. His action felt fine and he really put on the line when I asked him.
“I’m really looking forward to having a rematch with Brett (Prebble) and Sacred King in the KrisFlyer.
“I’ve told Brett he won’t beat me again.”
Rocket Man, by Viscount from the Mr McGinty mare Macrosa, has now won eight of his nine starts for owner Alfreddo Crabbia, with his only defeat coming at the hands of Sacred Kingdom in last year’s KrisFlyer Sprint.
Macrosa was onsold by Tyreel Stud at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2007 for $57,500 and has no yearling for the sales this year, although did have a colt by Shamardal (USA) last spring and was then covered by Dubawi (IRE).
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