Dundeel's Rocket Scientist Brains Them on Debut

Mark Smith - Tuesday February 14

As a brother to Super Seth, Rocket Scientist carried the weight of expectations of connections, and he passed his first test with a debut win over 1406m at Benalla on Tuesday.

Great debut. Rocket Scientist mows them down (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

Ridden by Damien Thornton for Anthony and Sam Freedman, the 3yo gelded son of Dundeel looked to have the job ahead with just one of the eleven starters behind him rounding the home turn.

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When switched out to find clear air, Rocket Scientist lengthened impressively to defeat the honest Capitalist gelding Capistan by one and a half lengths, with the Overshare gelding Segment a further one and a quarter lengths back in third.

"They said to be no closer than midfield, but when he started like that, ‘oh geez’, but he came back under me and relaxed,” Thornton said.

“They did not go quick, which I was a little worried about, but he was too good in the end. He got the short back and sides at the 500m, but once he gathered himself and balanced up, he was good.

“He feels like he will stay, which will help him because he is not the sharpest of horses, but if he stays, he will be OK.”

There is a good race in Rocket Scientist & he looks the part (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photod)

Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral and Planette Thoroughbred, Rocket Scientist was an $850,000 purchase for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

The son of Dundeel carries the colours of Jonathon Munz’s Pinecliff Racing, who races him in partnership with a few heavy hitters, including Ozzie Kheir, Brae Sokolski, and Rupert Legh.

Rocket Scientist an $850,000 Inglis Easter yearling

A brother to Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth, and a half-brother to Group II ATC Theo Marks Stakes winner and Group 1 Doomben ten Thousand runner-up, Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom), Rocket Scientist is the fourth winner from six to race for the Redoute’s Choice mare Salutations.

A daughter of the Group II Yallambee Classic winner Toast of The Coast (Rory’s Jester), Salutations has a sister to Rocket scientist and Super Seth in the Arrowfield Stud consignment at the Easter Yearling Sale. (Lot 333).

After missing in 2021, Salutations revisited Dundeel last spring.   

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Race Result - Benalla Grocers Mdn Plate 1406m

Benalla Track: Good(3) Time: 1:23.42
1
Rocket Scientist
- 3g Dundeel (NZ) x Salutations (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Damien Thornton 59
2
1.5
Capistan
- 3g Capitalist (AUS) x Istanford (USA) (Istan (USA))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: W Gordon 59
3
2.8
Segment
- 3g Overshare (AUS) x Zaleba (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Reece Goodwin Rdr: D W Stackhouse 59
4
3.1
Inner Sanctum
- 3g Sebring (AUS) x Inner City Girl (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: Logan McGill Rdr: Teodore Nugent 59
5
6.1
Livstar
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Villa Bled (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: B Mc Dougall 57
6
6.9
Celtic Hero
- 3g Toronado (IRE) x Santa Fe (AUS) (Lope De Vega (IRE))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: J Bowditch 59
7
7.3
Live Louder
- 4m Holler (AUS) x Stylish Miss (AUS) (Rakti (GB))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Zac Spain 57.5
8
7.4
Intello Star
- 4g Intello (GER) x Ebble (GB) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Jye McNeil 59.5
9
13.4
Shahin
- 3g Shalaa (IRE) x Cashla Bay (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Patrick Moloney 59
10
17.1
Some Eclipse
- 5g Free Eagle (IRE) x Miss Eclipse (AUS) (El Moxie (USA))
Tnr: R A Hockley Rdr: Samantha Noble 59.5
11
32.1
Hey Senorita
- 4m Turffontein (AUS) x Feirin (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: J Duffy 57.5
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