So You Think might be best known for his milers and middle distance horses, but it was his fleet footed son Rocketing By making waves on Everest Day winning the $2million ATC Sydney Stakes (1200m) beating last year’s Group I ATC Golden Rose winner In The Congo.
Trained by David Pfieffer, Rocketing By won the $1million Inglis Sprint over this course as a three year-old, but had been winless since and was sent out at 60-1.
Ridden a treat by Rachel King, he surged late when it counted to slip along the fence and beat In The Congo by a neck.
"It's a great thrill really,” said David Pfieffer.
"He's been such a great horse to me and the owners more than anything. He was a cheap buy from Inglis, he's won an Inglis race and now he's won a big race on Everest Day. It's phenomenal."
Rocketing By has had to overcome a series of issues, but his ability has never been in question.
"He's had knee surgery, he's had issues with his feet and to get the result, it's phenomenal. For me, the stable, for all the team, they work tirelessly.
“It's not a one-man team, some good people back home. My foreman who's been with me, geez a long time, she may as well be my wife. They've got to tolerate me, as my family does. It's a great result for everyone involved."
Rocketing By has the overall record of five wins and four placings from 19 starts with prizemoney of $1.9million, not bad for a horse bought for just $22,000 at the Inglis Scone Yearling Sale.
Consigned for sale by Middlebrook Valley Lodge, but bred by Segenhoe, Rocketing By is the best of three winners from stakes-placed Across the Moon, a three-quarter sister by Stratum to Group I winner Melito with another close relation being Group III winner Pariah.
Across the Moon was on-sold at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale fetching $52,000 to the bid of WA based Darling View Thoroughbreds. She has a yearling filly by Rubick and was covered last spring by Playing God.
Rocketing By is the 45th stakes-winner for So You Think, who had a winning double at Randwick with Cisco Bay winning the $150,000 ATC Big Dance Wild Card (1600m) to secure himself a start in the inaugural $2million The Big Dance on Melbourne Cup Day.
