Duel Deferred
August 3rd 2011 06:57
Black Caviar vs Rocket Man
words and photography by Neil Murray
Black Caviar vs Rocket Man
It's a great pity that Black Caviar and Rocket Man will not be racing each other at all this year. It looked like they would clash in the Patinack Farm Classic on Emirates Stakes day in November. But despite the $600,000 bonus on offer, connections decided not to bring Rocket Man to Melbourne. Quarantine requirements meant that Rocket Man would have been away from Singapore for two months and would have to fly straight to Hong Kong from Melbourne for the international sprint in December.
Black Caviar winning the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley
The two horses will take different paths for the rest of this year. Rocket Man will contest the Japan Sprinters Stakes on October 2, then go to Hong Kong for the International sprint in December. he will then be set for the Golden Shaheen in Dubai next year. Black Caviar on the other hand will do all her racing in Australia, making her comeback to racing in the Schillaci Stakes on October 8 at Caulfield, then contesting the Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day before running in the Patinack. She might then go to Perth for the Winterbottom Stakes in late November before spelling. According to the stable her only overseas mission will be Ascot in June next year.
Even the jockey applauds the champion
A clash in the Patinack between Black Caviar and Rocket Man would have settled the question as to who was the better horse. The question has already been decided in most of the experts' minds. In the July world rankings, Black Caviar ranked equal first in the world with a rating of 130. Rocket Man ranked sixth with 125. The next sprinter in the list was Hay List at tenth with 122.
But there are still those who believe Rocket Man can beat Black Caviar, and those who have lingering doubts about who would win. Rocket Man's trainer, Patrick Shaw is in no doubt. After Rocket Man's five length demolition of the field in this years' Singapore Airlines International Kris Flyer, Shaw threw out the challenge to Black Caviar " Bring it on, any time. I've always wanted to do it" and "I've been waiting to go to Australia to take her on for a while. I've seen her and she is a great mare but Rocket Man is better than she is".
A match between Black Caviar and Rocket Man had the potential to draw a record crowd to Flemington on that last day of the carnival. Black Caviar has enormous crowd pulling power here already, and Rocket Man captivates everyone who sees his show pony antics in the parade ring and his sensational performances on the track. He is the darling of the Singapore crowds and would undoubtedly attract a big following here.
Rocket Man up to his antics in the parade ring before the 2010 Kris Flyer in Singapore
But it is not to be, at least for the foreseeable future. Maybe they will have the showdown at Ascot next year. However,with each horse having a testing campaign before then, the situation could be very different by June 2012.
Rocket Man wins the 2011 Singapore International Kris Flyer Sprint
words and photography by Neil Murray
Black Caviar vs Rocket Man
It's a great pity that Black Caviar and Rocket Man will not be racing each other at all this year. It looked like they would clash in the Patinack Farm Classic on Emirates Stakes day in November. But despite the $600,000 bonus on offer, connections decided not to bring Rocket Man to Melbourne. Quarantine requirements meant that Rocket Man would have been away from Singapore for two months and would have to fly straight to Hong Kong from Melbourne for the international sprint in December.
Black Caviar winning the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley
The two horses will take different paths for the rest of this year. Rocket Man will contest the Japan Sprinters Stakes on October 2, then go to Hong Kong for the International sprint in December. he will then be set for the Golden Shaheen in Dubai next year. Black Caviar on the other hand will do all her racing in Australia, making her comeback to racing in the Schillaci Stakes on October 8 at Caulfield, then contesting the Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day before running in the Patinack. She might then go to Perth for the Winterbottom Stakes in late November before spelling. According to the stable her only overseas mission will be Ascot in June next year.
Even the jockey applauds the champion
A clash in the Patinack between Black Caviar and Rocket Man would have settled the question as to who was the better horse. The question has already been decided in most of the experts' minds. In the July world rankings, Black Caviar ranked equal first in the world with a rating of 130. Rocket Man ranked sixth with 125. The next sprinter in the list was Hay List at tenth with 122.
But there are still those who believe Rocket Man can beat Black Caviar, and those who have lingering doubts about who would win. Rocket Man's trainer, Patrick Shaw is in no doubt. After Rocket Man's five length demolition of the field in this years' Singapore Airlines International Kris Flyer, Shaw threw out the challenge to Black Caviar " Bring it on, any time. I've always wanted to do it" and "I've been waiting to go to Australia to take her on for a while. I've seen her and she is a great mare but Rocket Man is better than she is".
A match between Black Caviar and Rocket Man had the potential to draw a record crowd to Flemington on that last day of the carnival. Black Caviar has enormous crowd pulling power here already, and Rocket Man captivates everyone who sees his show pony antics in the parade ring and his sensational performances on the track. He is the darling of the Singapore crowds and would undoubtedly attract a big following here.
Rocket Man up to his antics in the parade ring before the 2010 Kris Flyer in Singapore
But it is not to be, at least for the foreseeable future. Maybe they will have the showdown at Ascot next year. However,with each horse having a testing campaign before then, the situation could be very different by June 2012.
Rocket Man wins the 2011 Singapore International Kris Flyer Sprint
| 29 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
