Rocket Man runaway winner in KrisFlyer

SINGAPORE:  May 22, 2011
 
ROCKET MAN winning the KrisFlyer International Sprint
unchallenged - SNTC photo

ROCKET MAN was third time lucky in the Group 1 S$1mil KrisFlyer International Sprint at Kranji here tonight. But was there any doubt that the Singapore champion would win the 1200m sprint on home soil after his first international Group 1 success in the Dubai Golden Saheen back in March.

ROCKET MAN was just three when beaten a neck by then Hong Kong champion SACRED KINGDOM in 2009. Last year, he went down by a similar margin to another Hong Kong runner GREEN BIRDIE.

Both the last two winners were in the field again tonight, but ROCKET MAN (Viscount - Macrosa by Mr McGinty) left them for dead when he hit the front not long after entering the straight and cruised home by four and three quarters lengths.

The challenge from SACRED KINGDOM and GREEN BIRDIE failed to materialise and it was local horses who filled the next four placings behind the winner.

"He’s done us proud again and this time he’s won the one that has proved elusive for so long," said trainer Patrick Shaw.

"I feel so privileged to be the jockey of such a champion," said winning jockey Felix Coetzee.

"This is my proudest moment in racing,” said owner Fred Crabbia. “I thought the Dubai race was the best night of my life, but this is 20 times better."

It was the 16th win in 20 starts for ROCKET MAN who also took his earnings to over the S$5.2mil mark.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES BARCELINA STAKES 
  CLASS 4 - 1400M      

5

 Flax D Hill J Verenzuela

1

2

 Baba Gift B Marsh G Boss

2

7

 Rising Expectation B Dean Soo

3

3

 Black Jack Baertschiger F Coetzee

4

2

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES DELHI STAKES
  RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M  

2

 Ravoux S Burridge G Boss

1

9

 Caribbean Moon H Takaoka O Placais

2

8

 What Now C Brown J Moreira

3

1

 Exciting Ahead B Marsh F Coetzee

4

3

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES HANOI STAKES
  NOVICE - 1600M      

5

 Travertine D Hill D Beasley

1

4

 Ready To Strike L Laxon J Moreira

2

14

 Tangible Assets H Takaoka O Placais

3

3

 Beat To Quarters M Walker V Duric

4

4

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES JAKARTA STAKES
  CLASS 4 - 1800M      

6

 Urban Dancer H Takaoka G Boss

1

3

 My Race D Koh T Rehaizat

2

8

 Street Legal B Marcus D Beasley

3

5

 Chief Secretary L Laxon J Moreira

4

5

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES MILAN STAKES
  NOVICE - 1200M      

4

 Red Beard B Marsh V Duric

1

3

 Clairvoyance H Takaoka O Placais

2

6

 Objective Love D Dragon Saimee

3

12

 Secara M Clements Soo

4

6

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SHANGHAI STAKES
  CLASS 3 - 1600M      

11

 Aspen Heights B Marsh J Verenzuela

1

14

 Meteor Mike D Hill R Stewart

2

3

 Trafalgar Legacy P Shaw B Vorster

3

1

 Mecca Star M Walker R Shafiq

4

7

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SYDNEY STAKES
  BENCHMARK 89 - 1400M      

9

 Flying Fulton M Walker F Coetzee

1

5

 U Got It Khoo J Verenzuela

2

11

 Imacruiser M Freedman Saifudin

3

1

 Flying West B Marcus J Moreira

4

8

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES SAO PAULO STAKES
  OPEN - 1600M      

5

 Maurice Utrillo P Shaw B Vorster

1

7

 Golden Number D Dragon Saimee

2

3

 Parfumier M Freedman D Beasley

3

1

 Keep Away H Takaoka Zaki

4

9

 KRISFLYER INTERNATIONAL SPRINT
  INTERNATIONAL GROUP 1 - 1200M  

1

 Rocket Man P Shaw F Coetzee

1

8

 Eclair Fastpass D Koh J Verenzuela

2

9

 Perfect Pins D Dragon Saimee

3

5

 Ghozi O'Hara V Duric

4

10

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL CUP
  INTERNATIONAL GROUP 1 - 2000M  

3

 Gitano Hernando H Brown G Schofield

1

12

 River Jetez M De Kock B Hayd'hrebe

2

2

 Irian J Moore D Beadman

3

9

 Waikato L Laxon J Moreira

3
  *Deadheat for 3rd      

11

 SINGAPORE AIRLINES ZURICH STAKES
  CLASS 3 - 1200M      

8

 Excavator Z L Mok Saimee

1

2

 Collect The Cash M Walker R Shafiq

2

9

 Knight Spirit B Dean D Beasley

3

5

 Excuse My French Baertschiger Kellady

4