ROCKET MAN ON TRACK FOR DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN

Rocket Man wins the Kranji Stakes A
(Photo : Singapore Turf Club)

KRANJI STAKES A
Kranji, Polytrack, 1200m

2011 Signapore Horse of the Year, Rocket Man, bounced back into the winner’s circle in sparkling fashion in on Sunday when he ran his rivals off their feet to score his 19th win in his first outing after a three-month spell.

The star sprinter had been rested after his unplaced effort in the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint on 11 December and needed the run in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A over 1200m on the Polytrack. It was the perfect finishing touch for Patrick Shaw’s charge before he embarks on his next overseas mission, the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen over 1200m, which he won last year.

Rocket Man took a while to get back in shape after his Hong Kong quarantine, but with three winning barrier trials under the belt, he was fit and ready to put his best foot forward.

With Fred Crabbia, South African owner and Summerhill client, watching from the stands, Rocket Man jumped smartly to take up the running with Tuxedo Moon (John Powell up) in close attendance and the horse considered his only danger should he falter - Rapido Star (Joao Moreira up) - in fourth on the rails.

Rocket Man set a steady pace and, although Tuxedo Moon valiantly tried to make a race of it 400m out, the champion easily shook him off before drawing clear to score a soft win. Rapido Star ran on for second, 4.75 lengths back with Tuxedo Moon plugging on solidly for third.

“This was the perfect prep run for him. It should get him right for Dubai,” said Shaw. “Considering he hasn’t raced for a while and was giving weight to the others, it was a superb effort. He was also ridden hands and heels, which was perfect. I couldn’t be happier with that run.”

Jockey Barend Vorster also had every reason to give the thumbs-up ahead of Rocket Man’s departure to the UAE on 24 March, a week before his big date in the US$2million Meydan dash.

“He’s still not quite 100%, but he felt good,” said the former South African rider. “He wasn’t as quick as lightning out of the gates as he is older now. But when Johnny’s horse (Tuxedo Moon) came testing him in the back straight, he just held it together and kept bowling along in front. There is still a bit of work to be done with him but he is certainly going in the right direction.”

Extracts from Signapore Turf Club

South African racing to be broadcast to Singapore

Phumelela Gold Enterprises (PGE) and the Singapore Turf Club have announced the ‘live’ telecast of South African horse races to Singapore from Wednesday, 13 September 2006. South African races will be screened ‘live’ along with Hong Kong races on Wednesdays.

The Club will take the “live” telecast of races from different racing centres in South Africa, starting from Wednesday, 13 September 2006. The first race will start at 6:35pm.

From October most South African race meetings on Wednesdays will take place in KwaZulu-Natal at one of three racecourses – Greyville, Clairwood and Scottsville. Greyville plays host annually to South Africa’s most famous race, the Vodacom Durban July.

Added Mr Yu Pang Fey, President and Chief Executive of Singapore Turf Club, “As part of a bilateral exchange, Singapore racing is now enjoyed by racing enthusiasts alongside UK races in South Africa.  I am happy to note that Singapore races “outsell” races from UK by some 25%. I am sure Singapore fans will enjoy the racing from this added venue. They are quite familiar with racing from South Africa. South African trainer Mike de Kock, who captured this year’s QE II Cup in Hong Kong with South African challenger Irridescence, is no stranger to Singapore, having entered his horse, Falstaff (now Our Falstaff under Kranji-based trainer Patrick Shaw), in the Singapore Airlines International Cup 2006. His other entries for the prestigious Cup were Right Approach and Excalibur in 2005 and Surveyor in 2004”.

In Singapore, South Africans have also made their mark in Singapore racing. Patrick Shaw has established himself as one of Singapore’s leading trainers since relocating to Kranji a few years ago, while jockey Barend Vorster has ridden many winners during his time in Singapore.

Source: Singapore Turf Club