Triumphant return to racing for Rocket Man

SINGAPORE:  Sep 5, 2010
 
ROCKET MAN coasting to a record-breaking win in the
Woodlands Handicap - SNTC photo

ROCKET MAN, as expected, made a triumphant return to racing with a smashing win in the inaugural S$200,000 Woodlands Handicap over 1200m on the polytrack at Kranji here today, and earned a trip to Japan to contest the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes on Oct 3.  

Despite giving away 8.5kg in the handicap race, ROCKET MAN (Viscount - Macrosa by Mr McGinty) cruised to a 5 1/2-length victory, setting a new course record with a time of 1 min. 9.74 secs.

It was his 10th win in 13 starts, but his first outing after finishing second to GREEN BIRDIE in the KrisFlyer International Sprint last May 16.

Taking over the ride on the five-year-old this time around, however, was veteran South African Felix Coetzee who was granted a five-day permit to work the champion sprinter in the lead up to today's race.

Coetzee will again fly out to Japan to ride ROCKET MAN who has thus far contested two international Group 1 events for two seconds. An error of judgement on the part of his former regular rider Robbie Fradd cost him the race when he went down to KINSALE KING in the Dubai Golden Shaheen last March.

ROCKET MAN was Coetzee's second winner of the day, having scored on MY FRIEND JO (Johar - Athykaneyev by Nureyev) in the Pan Malaysian Pools Trophy (Initiation - 1600m) for four-year-olds.

However, the day's riding honour went to Barend Vosster who landed three winners.

Meanwhile, CRUISE HOME registered the second biggest upset of the season todate when he registered his second win in 15 starts to pay $607 for a win.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)

3

 Juwel P Shaw B Vorster

1

2

 Queen's Avenue D Kok J See

2

9

 Splitsville D Koh R Fradd

3

4

 Zac Nirvana M Freedman D Beasley

4

2

 INITIATION (2 & 3YO) - 1200M

1

 Ace Allotroped M Freedman D Beasley

1

8

 Sichuan Ruler Baertschiger F Coetzee

2

4

 Gold Streak S Chua N Cunha

3

5

 Higgs Boson J Meagher Soo

4

3

 SELANGOR TURF CLUB
  CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1600M  

5

 Solid Wood L Treloar J Moreira

1

3

 Trafalgar Legacy B Marcus S Cormack

2

7

 Make A Return H Takaoka Chavez

3

6

 Oblivion J Meagher Soo

4

4

 CLASS 5 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)

8

 Equience J Meagher Soo

1

5

 Bisa Khoo Saifudin

2

12

 Nefertiti J Meagher M Firdaus

3

10

 Who Els T Kieser R Fradd

4

5

 PENANG TURF CLUB TROPHY
  NOVICE - 1200M      

11

 Kennecott M Freedman B Vorster

1

12

 Simply The Best D Koh J Moreira

2

9

 Rocky Garden O'Hara Saimee

3

5

 Lady Trio L Laxon R Fradd

4

6

 BENCHMARK 83 - 1600M

5

 Volpista P Shaw B Vorster

1

4

 Tobias S Burridge R Stewart

2

3

 Happiness Come S Burridge Chavez

3

2

 Storm Chispazo B Marcus S Cormack

4

7

 PAN MALAYSIAN POOLS TROPHY
  INITIATION (4YO) - 1600M  

6

 My Friend Jo Baertschiger F Coetzee

1

5

 Dolce Vita H Takaoka J Moreira

2

1

 Scipio B Marcus S Cormack

3

2

 Jeremy L Laxon Saimee

4

8

 CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

5

 Cruise Home H K Tan J See

1

7

 Nero Grotto H Takaoka Zaki

2

6

 See Me Win Khoo K K Ng

3

2

 Ninth Avenue D Kok H S Gill

4

9

 PERAK TURF CLUB TROPHY
  CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1600M  

12

 Wonderful Approach D Dragon J Moreira

1

1

 Jamal Malik P Shaw F Coetzee

2

10

 Five Claws S Burridge R Stewart

3

8

 Kirin Arising J Meagher R Fradd

4

10

 WOODSLAND HANDICAP (S'pore G3) - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

1

 Rocket Man P Shaw F Coetzee

1

6

 Bionic Boy S Burridge R Stewart

2

3

 Ntini M Freedman M Gallagher

3

2

 Capablanca Baertschiger Chavez

4

11

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)

5

 Happy Ending H K Tan J See

1

8

 Rapidflare D Kok M Yap

2

6

 Cabrera S Burridge J Moreira

3

4

 Shining Glory Baertschiger D Beasley

4

12

 CLASS 3 - 1400M

8

 Hopkins L Laxon Saimee

1

3

 Dabble C Brown J Moreira

2

5

 Dynamic Dan S Burridge S Ruzaini

3

1

 All Elusive B Marsh D Beasley

4