Rocket Man Gearing Up for Return, BC Possible

Former Singapore star Rocket Man, one of the world's top sprinters at his prime, is nearly ready to race after a three-year hiatus, and his owner says the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland is not out of the question.

 

"He needs a swan song," owner Alfredo (Fred) Crabbia said of his 9-year-old gelding last week during the barrier draw for the Singapore Airlines International Cup (Sin-I).

 

Rocket Man, an Australian-bred by Viscount out of Macrosa, by McGinty, was a terror on the Asian-Middle East circuit in his younger days. He has won 20 of 27 starts, 18 of them at his Kranji base in Singapore. He arguably peaked in 2010, when he was defeated by a nose by J J the Jet Plane in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I) in December of that year. Those two went their separate ways the following March in Dubai with Rocket Man winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) and J J the Jet Plane landing the Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-II).

 

The 2010 Hong Kong Sprint, as proved by the Dubai results, was a world-class event. Had Australian champion Black Caviar been added to the mix, Crabbia said, "That would have been the best race ever."

 

Crabbia, a major owner in his native South Africa, also keeps an extensive stable based in Singapore. He said Rocket Man has suffered throughout his career with a tendon problem and he decided early in 2012 to give his star an extended rest. His last race was April 29 of that year. The plan worked, Crabbia said.

 

"He looks like a 4-year-old," the owner said. "He has never been better."

 

Crabbia originally hoped to bring Rocket Man back in the KrisFlyer Sprint (Sin-I) on the SAI Cup undercard May 17. "But we just ran out of time," he said.

 

He knows the horse's future is limited by his age, but after nursing him back to full health, he wants the best from the remaining starts and did not blink when asked about a potential visit to the United States.

 

"I leave the decision to (trainer Patrick Shaw) but, yes, I would be interested in the Breeders' Cup," Crabbia said.

 

Shaw confirmed the lofty ambitions.

 

"We probably would need to break up the travel, stopping in Dubai or in Japan," he said.

 

It's a longshot, to be sure, as Rocket Man is not nominated to the Breeders' Cup program. And the only remaining Breeders' Cup Challenge races that would provide financial support for his travel are in the United States.