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Singapore’s champion sprinter Rocket Man took a step closer to his much-awaited racing comeback when he came out for his first barrier trial at Kranji since being sidelined through injury on Thursday.

Ridden by regular partner Barend Vorster, the Viscount seven-year-old finished a close third to Foxtrot Hotel (Joao Moreira), making it the first time he had not won a barrier trial since his very first at his pre-race debut in 2008.

After beginning smartly from barrier No 1 to take up his customary role of leader in the seven-horse field, Rocket Man just ambled along all the way to the line. Although Vorster never shook the reins at any stage, the dual International Group 1 winner was in front everywhere except the shadows of the post when he was swamped by Foxtrot Hotel and Mr Epic (John Powell).

The KrisFlyer International Sprint winner (2011) was gearing up for another crack at the Group 1 race over 1200m last May when he was sensationally withdrawn a week before after suffering a swollen left front medial suspensory ligament.

Stablemate Ato proved a more than worthy replacement when he went on to win the $1 million race for trainer Patrick Shaw, while the untimely setback spelled a lengthy time on the outer for Rocket Man.

The racing world waited with bated breath for his comeback, but it was not until November when the 20-time winner and $6.7 million stakes earner reappeared on the training tracks, ruling out any crack at the Hong Kong Sprint in December.

After a slow and steady build-up, connections are now upbeat he will be fit on time for his main target in March: Dubai.

“It was his first trial after a long break, and obviously we wanted to just give him an easy run,” said assistant-trainer Ricardo Le Grange, deputising for Shaw, still holidaying in South Africa.

“He’s still unfit, but he’s back to his old self, bouncing around. Most importantly, he pulled up good and he will come on from that first trial.

“Hopefully he can have another two trials to bring him on. Ultimately, the plan is to race him once on the Polytrack over 1200m before he goes to Dubai, which remains his main objective.”

Rocket Man rewrote the Singapore racing history books in 2011 when he became the first Singapore-trained horse to land an International Group 1 race, the US$2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (1200m).

He was well on his way towards a second consecutive victory last year when he drew clear down the Meydan all-weather track, but was unfortunately denied by the Bahrain-trained Krypton Factor in the concluding stages. The valiant sprinter bounced back from that defeat with a fourth win in a row in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) back home a month later, before his campaign was cut short by the ligament strain.

“He had an X-ray last week and it was all clear. We will have another one after today’s trial just to make sure everything is okay,” said Le Grange.

“We didn’t want to rush him during his break. It’s taken a little longer than we would have liked but our priority was always to let him tell us when he would be ready to come back.”

Vorster agreed that first barrier trial under the belt could only do the Fred Crabbia-owned champ a power of good.

“I’m very happy with his trial. He was coming back from a lengthy spell and it was our intention to just give him an easy trial for a start,” said the South African jockey.

“When I let him go a bit at the top of the straight, he pricked his ears, but he was still loafing around all by himself and finished it off nicely.

“I’ve done three bits of pacework with him and he’s coming along very well. Obviously, we can’t rush him and we will just slowly step him up in his work.”