3 minute read
After catching the eye on debut the Ricardo Le Grange trained Rocket Star took a good step forward when dominant in the third event at Kranji on Sunday.
Kicking off his career over 1000m, Rocket Star was only narrowly edged out when surging late behind the unbeaten Big Hearted.
On that occasion Big Hearted got the jump on Rocket Star, with Vlad Duric making his run a long way out.
Revved up passing the 500m, Big Hearted went straight passed Rocket Star, with the latter forced to ease off heels and took a while to balance up.
Holding a 3L margin inside the 300m, Rocket Star really knuckled down late, running Big Hearted to a nose.
His last 200m was very impressive and he relished the step up to 1100m on Sunday.
Ridden by Callan Murray, Rocket Star did have to be ridden along early, but held his position just off the speed.
Travelling well inside the 600m, Rocket Star peeled to the outside and looked to have plenty to offer.
Pushed five-wide into the straight, he again took a while to balance up, but once he did, it was game over, hitting the front inside the 200m.
Only hit with the whip twice, Rocket Star quickly put a gap on them, eased down to score by 2.8L.
Second placegetter Admiral Winston stuck on well, but was clearly no match.
In what looked a strong 2YO event on paper, Rocket Star just toyed with them and with 6.1L back to third, it should prove a good piece of form — more notably the clocked backed up the sizable beaten margins.
While only able to compare to three Class 5 races on the night, when adjusted for race standards, he has gone very very well.
On debut he ran a Timeform rating of 71 and improved to run 84 on Sunday with a hint of more to come.
He has put up easily the best performance of any 2YO this season and is clearly the horse to beat in the Group 2 Golden Horseshoe (July 19).
Last year Lim's Lightning ran a figure of 83 winning the feature and hence Rocket Star is already well and truly in the ballpark.
The last box he is yet to tick is switching to the turf track, however being by Star Witness there is no reason to think he won't be as effective on the course proper.
The way he closed off his race on Sunday he should be even better at 1200m and is a very exciting prospect - a must for your blackbook.
