Winner: Rocket Man (Viscount-Macrosa)
Race: SingTC Woodlands Trophy G3 (1200m)
Sold for $60,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Tyreel Thoroughbred Stud
Buyer: World Wide Bloodstock
Owner(s): Fred Crabbia
Earnings: S$2.14 million
Trainer: Patrick Shaw (Kranji)

Champion sprinter Rocket Man returned to the track in a blaze on glory in Singapore tonight when he scored a record breaking win in the S$200,000 Woodlands Trophy (1200m) at Kranji.

The Australian bred and sold son of Viscount sent a warning to his likely rivals in the Sprinters Stakes in Japan when he smashed the track record and thumped a quality field by five and a half lengths.

The performance was nothing short of breathtaking.

With star international jockey Felix Coetzee in the saddle for the first time, Rocket Man gradually worked his way across from the outside barrier and to the head of the field.

His rivals attempted to make their run and Ronnie Stewart riding eventual runner-up Bionic Boy thought he was going to make a race of it when they field turned for home.

But Stewart soon realised his winning chances were gone when that “something special” zipped clear when asked to establish a massive margin.

Rocket Man stopped the clock in a sizzling 1 minute 9.74 seconds – almost a second quicker than the previous best time ever run over 1200 metres on the Kranji polytrack.

Winning trainer Patrick Shaw said the gelding never ceased to amaze him.

“I’m absolutely speechless,” Shaw said. “There’s nothing more I can say about this horse – his runs speak for themselves.”

“He hasn’t raced for nearly four months. To scored first up with 59kg and break the record is just an outstanding feat.”

“We’ve got him spot on for Japan now. He’s booked to fly out on September 17th.”

“As far as I’m concerned we’ve brought him up to the best we could possibly have. Felix will be going there on the 24th of September as the quarantine there won’t allow him to come near him until a week before the race.”

Felix Coetzee, the former regular rider of champion Hong Kong sprinter Silent Witness, is excited to be riding Rocket Man in Japan.

“He’s got such a terrific cruising speed,” Coetzee noted. “I wasn’t concerned at all when I was caught wide early.”

“I knew that they would have to go really quickly to keep up with him and at that rate they would eventually drop away.”

“He just killed them at the home turn. When I asked him in the home stretch, he picked up very well and just gave a very powerful kick to score going away.”

“I’ve never ridden him before except for the two times I rode him in trackwork, but he had given me such a confident feel then.”

“I have to thank both Robbie Fradd and Barend Vorster for giving me useful pointers on him, especially Robbie who knows him so well.”

“He told me about all his habits and how best to ride him. I’m very grateful to both of them.”

“I’m so looking forward to the opportunity to ride him in Japan. Here I have to say thank you to Pat and Fred for the privilege they have given me for riding this very special horse.”

“I have no doubt he will be very competitive there. It would not be fair to compare him with Silent Witness as they’re both champions with their own different qualities.”

South African based owner Fred Crabbia was on hand to cheer home his champion at Kranji.

“My only concern before the race was the 9kg difference between him and the other horses,” Crabbia said.

“In human terms, even a sprinter like Usain Bolt would feel the pinch if he had to carry 1kg more than his rivals.”

“It was a huge risk, but he did with such ease that I’m absolutely flabbergasted.”

“It’s an absolutely fantastic performance and all credit should go to Pat for having kept him in such terrific form.”

“Japan here we come! I’ve already booked my ticket and I would not miss it for anything in the world.”

Leading South African based bloodstock agent Andy Williams purchased Rocket Man for Crabbia and Shaw for $60,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast.

The Tyreel Stud graduate is a half brother to the South African Group One winner Our Giant – being a son of the Sydney stakes winner Macrosa.

As it stands Rocket Man has earned over S$2.14 million from just 13 starts – 10 wins and three second placing