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Son of Fastnet Rock to contest Japan Trophy before heading across the Tasman
New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) will run in the Japan Trophy (Gr 2, 1600m) at Tauranga on Saturday, before heading across the Tasman to contest the Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m).
"He pulled up really well from his New Zealand Derby win," co-trainer Lance O'Sullivan said.
"He's just carried on as per normal as if it was any race in his prep so Andrew and I are delighted with the way he's come through it.
"He will now race this Saturday at Tauranga in the three-year-old mile or the Japan Trophy with a preference to the three-year-old race."
O’Sullivan has warned punters that Saturday's race is not a target as the stable attempt to have the colt peak again for the Australian Derby.
"I'd be very surprised if he figured in the finish on Saturday, he's being prepared to run a mile and half," O'Sullivan said.
"After coming off a Derby prep, it's very difficult to see him running a sharp mile around Tauranga. It's a race that has been added because of the Sydney carnival being pushed back a week. We just felt it was too far in between runs and we didn't want to trial him on the synthetic track.
"The grand final was the New Zealand Derby and it was always going to be. Anything beyond that is a bonus. He has won his Derby and that was the original plan.
"With the carnival being pushed back another week, it has probably helped us if anything. It has given us a little bit longer to get his legs freshened and with it being five weeks in between runs, we have opted to give him the extra race over a mile. We're certainly under no illusion, it will be no easy task to peak him twice in the one campaign."
