Rocket Man wins the Gulf News-sponsored Dubai Golden Shaheen

Rocket Man finally broke the jinx of four second-place finishes in his last four international races as he breezed home to win the Gulf News-sponsored Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1) on Tapeta last night.

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The Australian bred 5-year-old gelded son of Viscount, trained and ridden by the South African pair of Patrick Shaw and Felix Coetzee has been unbeatable in Singapore where he is based and raced. Though he has won 13 of his 17 starts the remaining four have been second-placed finishes at international races including one here last year.

Deprived of revenge

And yesterday, the small field of ten was further reduced when last year's defending champion Kinsale King became a late withdrawal after an ‘allergic reaction' and Rocket Man was deprived of avenging his defeat to the American sprinter.

However another American sprinter, the Bob Baffert-trained stepped in to lead and did so until almost the final furlong when Coetzee pressed the button and Rocket Man shifted to another gear and romped home. Euroears, the front-running young star from Baffert's yard finished second while Hong Kong challenger Sunny King ran into third place.

Patrick Shaw was delighted as he received his trophy from Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Editor-in-Chief and Executive Director Publications, Al Nisr Publishing LLC, who have been the sponsoring this sprint race over the years.

Rocket Man's owner Alfredo Leonardo Arnaldo Crabbia said, "I am so relieved that he has managed to break this voodoo of coming second every time. The last four international races that he ran he has always placed second and I was dreading this moment here too. The past four second places together would have counted for a mare half a length! He needed to break this jinx and I am glad he has done so on such an amazing stage.

"If ever there is a horse that needed to win, it is him. I am so flooded with this win that I am shaking. We will be back next year," the owner said.

The star performer drew praises from the winning jockey too. Coetzee said: "The race just went great for him. It went according to plan as Euroears made good traction early on but when I asked him at the top of the straight he gave me a very good kick.

"He's a terrific horse. Always confident he'd outkick the runner-up. This is the most tenacious horse I've ever ridden. He's got terrific stamina, boundless energy, he's a super horse. I said that before the race. I'm the happiest person in Meydan tonight.

Winning trainer Shaw hailed Rocket Man as the most honest horse he has ever handled. "Obviously I am so very happy for the horse as he is the one who really deserves this win. His speciality is that he is such an honest horse, and each time he has gone to race he has always given off his best. I think this is the most honest horse that I have ever trained.

"He's huge in Singapore, he's broken a few records on the Tote, so obviously he's got a huge following," he added.
 

• Race 5. Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Gulf News (Group 1) Purse: $2 million (Thoroughbreds) 1200m (a6F) Tapeta:
• Distance: Won by 2.25 lengths, 0.25L, 2.75L
• Winning time: 1:11.28
• Winner owned by Alfredo L.A Crabbia
   

RESULTS

— With inputs from Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter and Ashley Hammond, Staff Reporter