Breeding & Racing Magazine

Aust-Bred Viscount Son Singapore's Highest Rated Horse

Triple Gr1-winning former Woodlands Stud & now WA Oakland Park Stud-based prominent 3rd-season sire Viscount (Quest For Fame-Antwerp, by Sir Tristram) received a major pre-breeding season boost with the announcement yesterday that undefeated 3YO gelding Rocket Man (Viscount-Macrosa, by McGinty) is now the highest rated galloper in Singapore following his breath-taking victory against older rivals (& 7th successive win) in the weekend's Gr1 Lion City Cup (1200m) at Kranji. Rocket Man rose to a rating of 115 & Singapore Turf Club head of handicapping Mike Wanklin commented: "The one thing he hadn't done prior to last Friday night was to prove himself at weight-for-age. He's done that now & in the process he has proved himself the best horse in Singapore after easily defeating the next 3 highest rated horses in Waikato, Capablanca & Top Spin at weight-for-age in virtually course record time." Rocket Man (a $60,000 yearling consigned by Tyreel Stud at the 2007 Magic Millions National Sale on the Gold Coast) has also won March's Gr3 Kranji Sprint over 1200m, January's Gr3 Singapore 3YO Sprint over 1200m & last November's Gr3 Magic Millions Orchid Trophy over 1200m in his undefeated sequence. Meanwhile Rocket Man was back on the track for the 1st time yesterday morning (after being given an easy few days to recover from his latest triumph) & trainer Patrick Shaw commented: "He's come out of the race very well & we can now concentrate on getting him ready for the KrisFlyer." (In the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m on Sunday May 17, Rocket Man is due to clash with multiple Gr1-winning Australian sprinter Takeover Target.) Shaw added he will monitor Rocket Man's condition over the next week "to see whether he requires a barrier trial in the lead-up to the KrisFlyer" & noted: "It's something I will have to think about. If I do, it will probably be on Thursday week. He usually has about 5 weeks between his races & a trial fits in nicely in the lead-up to his races. This time there is just over 3 weeks between runs. That is not a concern, it is just whether he needs the trial or not."