Third time lucky for Rocket Man in KrisFlyer
Michael Lee/Craig Brennan
Sunday, May 22, 2011
After running two seconds for two consecutive years, Singapore champion sprinter Rocket Man finally went one better in the $1 million Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m at Kranji on Sunday.
The revenge was even sweeter as his two victors Sacred Kingdom (2009) and Green Birdie (2010) were this time comprehensively beaten by Patrick Shaw's Viscount five-year-old.
The win recorded in 1min 9.14secs also handed Rocket Man his second International Group 1 success, two months after making history by becoming the first Singapore-based horse to achieve such a feat with a dominant win in the US$2 million Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Golden Shaheen (1200m) at Meydan in Dubai.
But despite the Dubai delight, the home crowd had deep down been holding out for the one that mattered the most -- the KrisFlyer, which incidentally constituted the third Leg of the Global Sprint Challenge for the first time at this year's renewal - on their own turf.
And how Rocket Man realised their dreams with an even more crushing victory than in the Golden Shaheen.
The fastest out of the gates, Rocket Man with his international partner Felix Coetzee up, bolted out of his ninth gate to be a length in front. But Better Be The One (Danny Beasley) and Perfect Pins (Saimee Jumaat) railed through on the inside to keep Rocket Man three wide for a while.
But as the speed battle eased off, Better Be The One emerged in front with Perfect Pins tucking in behind while Rocket Man elected to sit second outside Better Be The One.
Coetzee bided his time until the home turn when he popped the question to the champ, who responded brilliantly with that burst of speed that has demoralised many opponents. As Rocket Man put two lengths on the rest, all eyes were cast behind on any potential party poopers who could deny him that joy for the third time.
Of the two Hong Kong raiders, Sacred Kingdom looked to be travelling better as he was set alight by Glen Boss on the outside while Green Birdie (Brett Prebble) seemed to be battling away at the back. Among the locals, Better Be The One, widely tagged as Singaporepotential bridesmaid to Rocket Man was knocking up while Perfect Pins was still in the hunt.
But it did not really matter in the end when Coetzee switched on the rocket booster. Rocket Man let down with a withering burst to put a space on the rest and put the issue quickly beyond doubt a long way from home - leaving the chasing pack to battle for the minors.
From the ruck, Eclair Fastpass (Jose Verenzuela) ran on the best to claim second, 4 ¾-length away, with a head to third-placed Perfect Pins for a Singapore trifecta in a race the hosting country had not even won before.
But the cheers were for only one horse -- crowd pleaser Rocket Man who returned to the winner's circle to a standing ovation from his adoring fans. Shaw and Crabbia were the first in line and needless to say, emotions ran high as their hero filed into No 1 stall instead of No 2 he stood at in the last two editions.
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Rocket Man Champion Sprinter-!!by Barbarolover661,905 views
Champion International Sprinter of the world. Please!
bgardiner2000 6 months ago