Rocket Tiger heading for the barriers in the Silver Slipper on Saturday.
Connections of the Scott Spackman trained Rocket Tiger may dare to dream and head for the Golden Slipper on March 20 after the 2 year old gelding was narrowly beaten in the Silver Slipper on Saturday.
4 of the last 9 winners of the Golden Slipper have completed the Silver/Golden double. Rocket Tiger broke from barrier 2 and was 5th on the rail before moving into 4th place at the 700 metre mark.
He then found himself with little room at the 300 metre mark and kept gaining ground over the last 200 metres to finish just .2 lengths off eventual winner Home Affairs.
The race caller said, “The horse from Wagga, didn’t he give that a real shake up. Rocket Tiger Didn’t he make his precence felt, surging at the end.”
Ray Thomas from the Daily Tele said, “Home Affairs put himself right into the Golden Slipper frame — but don’t rule out Rocket Tiger either.
The result of the Group 2 $250,000 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens probably left more questions unanswered than answered except the winner, Home Affairs, and runner-up, Rocket Tiger, are both very talented two-year-olds.
But the connections of the unlucky Rocket Tiger live to fight another day after their modest home-bred ran on strongly to lose by a short neck.”
Rocket Tiger was held up for a run in the straight and had to ease off heels then switch course before closing rapidly on the winner.
Trainer Scott Spackman felt Rocket Tiger was unlucky not to have left Rosehill with his unbeaten record intact.
“He should have won,’’ Spackman said.
“I don’t think people realise how good this horse is.
“I’ll talk it over with the owners but we might look at the Black Opal Stakes next start or the Todman Stakes.’’
Both youngsters are right on track for the $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 20 after Home Affairs ($3.60) held off the late surge of Rocket Tiger ($16) to win with Direct ($17) just over a length away third.
Spackman said “We couldn’t do any more. She made room and came out, I was wrapped with her.”
Connections will have to pay $150,000 to get Rocket Tiger into the Golden Slipper. However, if they perform well they may see the investment returned.
1st place pays $2,000,000 2nd place $600,000 3rd place $300,000 4th place $170,000 5th place $100,000 before the remaining places down to 10th pay $50,000.
Scott said, “Noel and his wife Maria have been supporting us for years and now their son is involved with this one. Noel has always been a big supporter of mine. I’m so proud of the horse and everyone involved, the horse is everything to me. I still think this horse should be undefeated but as they say ‘that’s racing’ There has been a lot of people along the way help be out in my training career. Robert McGrath has always been a bloke who has always been happy to help. It is very humbling.”
