Rocket Man laid down the gauntlet to Black Caviar when he demoralised a deep field of sprinters in the G1 KrisFlyer International at Kranji on Sunday.

Rocket Man (5g Viscount – Macrosa by McGinty) made his rivals look second rate as he raced away for a five length victory from Eclair Fastpass (Fastnet Rock) and Perfect Pins (Pins).  He clocked 69.14s for 1200m.

Trainer Pat Shaw don’t let the moment pass without questioning the pecking order in the world’s sprint ranks.  “We’re happy to take on Black Caviar,” Shaw said.  “She’s a great mare but Rocket Man is better.”

Rocket Man was sent out the red hot favourite after a similar demolition of his rivals in the recent Lion City Cup at Kranji.  At his previous run he travelled to Dubai for a resounding win in the Golden Shaheen at Meydan.

“He’s getting stronger and we are already looking at a few choices overseas,” Shaw added.  “The July Cup at Newmarket is the first option and I’ve been invited to go and inspect the quarantine facilities in Australia.”

Winning jockey Felix Coetzee said it was a privilege to ride Rocket Man.  “When they pushed up inside him, I was never worried.  These champions help you, they tell you what to do.  I’m just the guy who sits on top.”

Rocket Man has built up a near perfect 20: 16-4-0 record and has earned the equivalent of AUD 4.57 million.  His only defeats have come in four off-shore Group 1 events by a combined total of 1.2 lengths!

The Australian bred gelding is the best horse to ever come out of Singapore and the massive Kranji crowd roared its approval as their pin-up galloper raced home in emphatic style.

Rocket Man is by former Woodlands sire Viscount who is based at Neville Duncan’s Oaklands Park in WA.  He was bred by Dean Fleming and sold for $60,000 through the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2007 Magic Millions National yearling sale.

He is a half-brother to South African based galloper Our Giant (Giant’s Causeway) who has won at the elite level in the Mercury Sprint at Clairwood and the Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein.  Their dam Macrosa is a half-sister to G1 AJC Australian Derby winner Ebony Grosve (Grosvenor).