Green Birdie on target in International Sprint

SINGAPORE,  May 16, 2010
 
GREEN BORDIE (on rails) holds off ROCKET MAN to win the
KrisFlyer International Sprint - SNTC photo

For the third time in a row, ROCKET MAN has to play bridesmaid in an international Group 1 event.

After his narrow defeat to SACRED KINGDOM in the KrisFlyer International Sprint in course record time last year, the Singapore champion sprinter was hoping to make it third time lucky in an international especially after going down to to KINSALE KING in the Dubai Golden Shaheen in March.

Sent out odds-on favourite in the S$1m KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m at Kranji here tonight, ROCKET MAN tracked Australia's GOLD TRAIL from the start. He ranged along side the leader at the home bend but drifted a little wide which allowed GOLD TRAIL to take a clear lead till the 200m.

ROCKET MAN got going again soon after. By then, Hong Kong runner GREEN BIRDIE, ridden by Mark Du Plessis, had taken a gap between the two horses and they raced away from the tiring GOLD TRAIL to fight out the finish.

GREEN BIRDIE, trained by Casper Fownes, won by a neck from ROCKET MAN with another Hong Kong runner HAPPY ZERO flashing home third.

For Du Plessis, who rode with distinction in Singapore from 2003 to 2006 winning the Gold Cup twice on ZIRNA and RAUL, it was his biggest win.

Fownes could not contain his delight: "I'm very excited. To come here and beat the best sprinters in the world - wow!"

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 HONG KONG STAKES
  CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M      

13

 Arjuna O'Hara Saifudin

1

10

 Dynamic Dan S Burridge S Ruzaini

2

1

 Montego Bay S Gray V Duric

3

8

 Trafalgar Legacy B Marcus S Cormack

4

2

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 SYDNEY STAKES
  RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M  

9

 Recycle World S Gray V Duric

1

13

 Gingerbread Man B Marsh B Vorster

2

7

 His My Idol Z L Mok Saimee

3

10

 Steven L Laxon J McDonald

4

3

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 MELBOURNE STAKES
  CLASS 4 - 1800M      

3

 Tien Chai H K Tan J Moreira

1

11

 Clint C Brown J Powell

2

2

 King Faalcon B Marsh O Placais

3

9

 Village J Meagher Soo

4

4

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 LONDON STAKES
  BENCHMARK 97 - 1600M      

5

 Intercept L Laxon Saimee

1

9

 Tarankali M Freedman J Moreira

2

8

 Rooy C Brown R Stewart

3

7

 Saddlers Creek B Marsh Chavez

4

5

SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 PARIS STAKES

  CLASS 3 - 1600M      

7

 Risky Business S Burridge S Ruzaini

1

1

 New Rose Wood D Koh Woodworth

2

15

 My Face S Gray S Cormack

3

10

 Dabble C Brown J Moreira

4

6

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 ZURICH STAKES
  CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M      

7

 Hear Me S Chua S John

1

14

 Monterey Baertschiger J Powell

2

6

 Heedmaster D Koh Soo

3

1

 Dubai Gold C Brown J Moreira

4

7

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES MUNICH STAKES
  NOVICE - 1200M      

2

 Eclair Fastpass D Koh D Beasley

1

8

 Benji's Glory S Burridge R Stewart

2

5

 Magic Moxie H W Tan Soo

3

11

 Lucky Superstar B Dean D Oliver

4

8

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES TOKYO-HANEDA STAKES
  BENCHMARK 83 - 1200M      

8

 Kotipelto J Meagher R Stewart

1

1

 Kalash S Gray T R Barnabas

2

4

 Pacino L Laxon J McDonald

3

2

 Banks' Gift D Koh Woodworth

4

9

 KRISFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT - 1200M

4

 Green Birdie C Fownes Du Plessis

1

1

 Rocket Man P Shaw R Fradd

2

2

 Happy Zero J Moore D Beadman

3

6

 Gold Trail G Portelii M Rodd

4

10

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CUP - 2000M

4

 Lizard's Desire M De Kock K Shea

1

1

 Gloria De Campeao P Bary B Reis

2

3

 Al Shemali A Al Raihe R Ffrench

3

6

 Waikato L Laxon J Moeira

4

11

SINGAPORE AIRLINES TOKYO-NARITA STAKES

  CLASS 3 - 1200M      

4

 Big Choice L Laxon O Placais

1

12

 Wallinger M Freedman D Beasley

2

2

 So Majestic C Brown J Powell

3

5

 Dittatore P Shaw R Fradd

4