3 minute read
Unlike his namesake – the mighty Rocket Man – the Ricardo Le Grange Rocket Star is often an afterthought for racing scribes and punters alike.
With Lim's Kosciuszko hogging the headlines leading into the $110,000 Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on Saturday, Rocket Star will once again play second or third fiddle in the first feature race of the season.
A win would change that, but therein lies the problem for the Star Witness six-year-old.
His race record of only four wins from 22 starts – the highest only at Class 3 level – belies his rating of 97 points, but it was his amazing honesty at any level that had him rated in the top echelon of horses in Singapore.
The Australian-bred gelding had only missed a place twice in his career – both with excuses at Group level – and has only found one better an incredible three times at his three starts at Group 1 level.
Rocket Star finished second in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old to Inferno in 2020, second to Lim's Lightning in the Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) a year later and was unlucky not to beat Minister in the Group 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) that year.
Rocket Star undoubtedly deserves a win at Group level and Le Grange is hoping it comes on the Polytrack on Saturday as it could be a springboard to a successful 2023.
"He's a remarkable horse," said Le Grange on Thursday.
"He does get forgotten a bit – definitely flies under the radar – as he doesn't win often but he has shown that he can mix it with the best.
"I can't believe how stiff he has been not to win one (Group race), so hopefully he gets his chance this weekend.
"(Trainer) Dan's (Daniel Meagher) horse (Lim's Kosciuszko) is a beauty and trialled enormous (won in trial no. 3) the other day (on January 26), but I was really happy with how our boy (Rocket Star) went in that same trial (second).
"He has definitely stripped fitter after the trial – he needed that - and had some good pacework on Monday to keep him ticking over. He's ready."
Jockey Marc Lerner has retained the ride on the equal third highest-rated horse (with Surpass Natural and Celavi) in the field of 12 and after drawing gate one, Le Grange suggests that a positive ride would be the order of the day.
"I will leave it to Marc – he knows the horse well - but I would expect that we try to make use of the inside gate and be very positive early," he continued.
"There is plenty of pace in the race so if we can get a sit behind the leaders, he will have every chance to show his best."
For all his consistency, Rocket Star has been a very tricky horse to train and had his fair share of injuries. Due to his high rating, it was tough to place him in the right races as well.
"He's (Rocket Star) only won four times, so I did have some good discussions with the handicapper about his rating," said the South African handler.
"Unfortunately – and I understand that he's placed six times at Group level – he doesn't get the chance to win at handicap conditions, which is a little unfair to him as he deserves a chance.
"But it is what it is and we look at these weight-for-age races - like the Merlion (Trophy) – with the (Group 1) Raffles Cup (1600m) coming up in March (25) and the (Group 1) Kranji Mile in May (20).
"People don't know that he had his fair share of problems, which make his efforts all the more remarkable.
"He nearly lost an eye where he had a bad clot after (jockey) Vlad (Duric) rode him in a Class 4 race (in March 15, 2020).
"The vets (veterinary surgeons) wanted to remove the eye but (assistant-trainer) Jacci (de Tert) spent weeks keeping it clean and swabbing it every day.
"His (Rocket Star) career could have been over but Jacci flushed and cleaned it until it got better. A miracle really, thanks to Jacci.
"He also did a shoulder when he missed a place in the (Group 2) Steward's Cup (on July 3, 2021) and spent a lot of time off racing. There are other issues too, so he is a marvel to do what he is doing now.
"A lot of people will be cheering for him to win a big race and not many horses deserve it more."
