Rocket Man firms for Golden Shaheen

Rocket Man has firmed into a $2.50 favourite for the G1 Golden Shaheen after it was confirmed Overdose would not run in the feature sprint on the Dubai World Cup program.

Overdose (7h Starborough – Our Poppet by Warning) was being prepared for either the Golden Shaheen (1200m) or Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) on March 31 before developing an abscess on his off fore-leg.

The Budapest Bullet has won 16 of his 19 starts and was last seen winning a G3 in Rome late last year.  “Due to a communication problem, he was treated in Dubai for laminitis,” owner Zoltan Mikoczy said.  “The shoe wasn’t taken off so the pus tracked up his shin.”

Overdose is now back in England where he will be prepare for the G1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.  He finished fourth behind Prohibit, Star Witness and Sweet Sanette in the 2011 King’s Stand Stakes.

Rocket Man (6g Viscount – Macrosa by Mr McGinty) won the 2011 Golden Shaheen and he will leave for Dubai this Saturday.  He kept ticking over for the $2 million sprint with a barrier trial win at Kranji last Tuesday.  The Australian bred sprinter clocked 59.04s for 1000m which was the fastest of the morning.

His stablemate Ato will represent trainer Pat Shaw in the Al Quoz Sprint.  A South African bred son of Royal Academy, he has won six races in Singapore including the G3 Woodlands Hcp.