Rocket Man capped his preparation for another campaign with an impressive barrier trial win at Kranji on Tuesday.  He clocked 60.67s for 1000 metres coming home the last 600m in 34.8s.

The brilliant son of Viscount has not raced since winning the G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint in May.  He will return to action in the Kranji Stakes (1200m) on Sunday.

Trainer Patrick Shaw decided to dodge Black Caviar in Melbourne during the spring carnival.  He has earmarked the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama on October 2 as the gelding’s first assignment back on the road.  

The following stop on his world tour will be in Hong Kong where he will seek revenge in the G1 Cathay Pacific Sprint (1200m) on December 11.  He was narrowly beaten by J J The Jet Plane at Sha Tin last year.

“It’s been a work in progress to get him back to race fitness and I’m very happy with his condition going into Sunday’s race,” said Shaw.  “He’s still not quite 100% because I don’t want him to peak too early.”

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!

He was bred by Dean Fleming and sold for $60,000 through the Tyreel Stud draft at the 2007 Magic Millions National yearling sale.

Trainer Michael Freedman was hardly in a bullish mood after seeing Rocket Man first-hand on Tuesday.  He has More Than Ready gelding Better Be The One engaged in Sunday’s race and is resigned to fighting out for the minors.

Better Be The One’s last win was in February but subsequently turned in his best run to date when third to J J The Jet Plane in the G2 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) at Meydan.