He’s a Rocket!

Tara Madgwick - Saturday December 26

There were three smart debut winners taking each other on in the juvenile event at Randwick on Boxing Day and at the post it was the least fancied of the trio in Rocket Tiger, who was too good for the fillies Vandoula Lass and Vianello.

Advertisement

Rocket Tiger wins at Randwick - image Steve Hart.

Retained to race by his breeder, Rocket Tiger is trained at Wagga by Scott Spackman, who produced the son of Cluster for a narrow win at his first start in Canberra on December 13.

On paper, this 1100m scamper looked a lot tougher test, but Rocket Tiger rose to the challenge.

Partnered by Kathy O’Hara, Rocket Tiger stalked Magic Millions hopeful Vandoula Lass throughout and had the fillies measure in winning by a long head.

"I'm just so proud of this little horse. This is my first city winner. I'm just rapt," Spackman said.

"I said to Kath before the race, he is the type of horse who, if he gets his head in front, he doesn't like anything going past him and he's done it today."

"He is the best horse I've had ever."

With two wins in as many starts, Rocket Tiger has banked $70,000 in prizemoney and Spackman will now aim a bit higher with his stable star.

"He will go for a quick little break now and I'll speak to the owner, but we've probably got a Black Opal or a Wellington Boot (in mind)," Spackman said.

"But God, they're talking a Slipper chance here too and we've knocked them off so I don't know. The world is his oyster."

Rocket Tiger is the ninth winner from 10 foals to race from great producer Takook, who has a yearling filly by Cluster and had a colt this spring by another of the Larneuk Stud sires in O’Lonhro.

Cluster is the sire of Rocket Tiger

A Group II winning son of Fastnet Rock, Cluster stands at Larneuk Stud at a fee of $5,500. He also had a winner at Tumut on Saturday and Spinola Bay was a close  second at Morphettville.



 

Advertisment

Race Result - Boxing Day Plate 1100m

Randwick Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:04.27
1
Rocket Tiger
- 2g Cluster (AUS) x Takook (AUS) (Keltrice (AUS))
Tnr: S Spackman Rdr: Ms K O'Hara 57
2
0.2
Vandoula Lass
- 2f Vancouver (AUS) x Doula (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
3
0.4
Vianello
- 2f Teofilo (IRE) x Serenissima (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 55
4
1.9
Sing A Love Song
- 2c Your Song (AUS) x Xaar's Jewel (AUS) (Xaar (GB))
Tnr: J A O'Shea Rdr: B Avdulla 57
5
2.1
Xtremetime
- 2f Extreme Choice (AUS) x Peace Time (USA) (War Front (USA))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: S Clipperton 55
6
3.1
Colour De Roy
- 2c Capitalist (AUS) x Kaitlin Cove (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: Tom Sherry 55
7
7.5
Cochrane
- 2c Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Madame Fly (AUS) (Excites (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J Bowman 57
More Reading...
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 23
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 22
Here is the full list of 25 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Future Bright for Danica Guy
Group Three winner Lupo Solitario has returned to New Zealand, and the care of his former trainer Danica Guy, following a six-month racing stint in Hong Kong, while the stable are also excited about a first starter this weekend by Justify (USA).
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Wootton Bassett Juvenile G2 Double
Wootton Bassett (GB) featured in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with two stakes-winning juveniles, Constitution River taking out the the Group II Futurity (7f), while the Group II Debutante (7f) went to the filly Composing, who comes from the family of Amelia’s Jewel.