Singapore champ Rocket Man still has eyes on Black Caviar
- Matt Stewart
- From:Herald Sun
- July 06, 2011 12:01am
Rocket Man’s priority is the Patinack Farm Classic at the Flemington carnival in November. Picture: Nicole GarmstonSource: Herald Sun
A FACT-FINDING mission early next month is expected to erase fears of a Rocket Man no-show at Flemington in November.
Rocket Man’s owner Fred Crabbia made Victoria Racing Club nervous on Sunday when he declared Rocket Man a certain starter in the Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama on October 2.
Quarantine requirements would make Rocket Man unable to run in both the Japanese race and the November 5 Patinack Farm Classic in a clash with Black Caviar.
Rocket Man’s trainer Robert Shaw insisted yesterday that the 1200m Patinack was his priority, though he conceded there was some confusion over quarantine.
Shaw also said he had some reservations about the Werribee quarantine facility, saying he had been aware of worries about the quality of the surface at the track.
“I’m coming out on the fifth (of August) to have a look at the facility and also to get to the bottom of the quarantine issue,” he said.
“From there I’ll make my mind up, but I’d love to be there for a clash in the Patinack. It would be a lovely race. But I’ve heard they’ve had some trouble with the track.”
Shaw said there was some issue with return-leg quarantine, saying he would like to avoid placing Rocket Man in a facility in Singapore that would not allow the horse to exercise.
Racing Victoria’s racing operations manager Paul Bloodworth said Shaw should have few worries if he stuck to his plan and headed straight to Hong Kong for the 1200m International Sprint in December after he takes on Black Caviar at Flemington.
“In that case he can go straight to Hong Kong and quarantine there without being out of work,” Bloodworth said.
Rocket Man began pre-training in Singapore last Monday. Shaw said: “I’m preparing him for a racing return at the end of August. Ideally we’d like to have a race or two and maybe a couple of trials before heading Down Under.”
Shaw said he felt obliged to race Australian-bred Rocket Man, by Viscount, at Flemington.
“In many ways, he’s an Aussie horse. So it’s something we’d be very keen to do,” he said.
“And as I’ve said all along, we’d love to have a crack at Black Caviar.”
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