Photo: Supplied.
Scott Spackman has had The Kosciuszko in the back of his mind for some time as he continues Rocket Tiger’s preparations for the $2 million country-only race, which will be run and won at Royal Randwick on October 15.
The lightly-raced five-year-old’s career has been well-documented, with Rocket Tiger contesting the 2021 Golden Slipper.
Early on during his two-year-old preparation, which kicked off in late 2020, Rocket Tiger won at Canberra and Royal Randwick before going on to run second to Home Affairs in the Group 2 Silver Slipper and third to Kalashnikov in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes.
After his Golden Slipper run, where Rocket Tiger finished tenth to Stay Inside, a freak paddock injury cruelled the promising youngster’s career, and he was off the scene for close to ten months.
It wasn’t an easy road back to the races, but Rocket Tiger was soon back to the winner’s circle last year, putting an excellent field to the sword in the Wagga Town Plate Prelude.
Following a luckless run in the Wagga Town Plate in May, where he finished fifth, beaten just over two lengths by the Mitch Beer-trained Mnementh, the Wagga galloper went to the paddock, with Spackman and connections quickly turning their attention to The Kosciuszko.
“He’s had a few issues, meaning he is only lightly raced, and he’s been hard work to get back to where we need him to be, but I think we’ve got him there,” Spackman said.
“He feels amazing; I galloped him myself on Saturday, and he’s never felt better.
“He’s come back a lot stronger, and obviously, we were like dogs chasing our tail to get confidence back up last time, but we got him firing again, and he’s back to his best.”
The Cluster gelding, a $17 chance in The Kosciuszko markets, is 18 weeks between runs and ready to showcase his ability to The Kosciuszko ticket holders, which will be announced on Friday.
Still, Spackman is in two minds with how he will approach the next week or so after Rocket Tiger failed to get a start in a trial at Wagga on Thursday.
“We tried to trial him here last Thursday at Wagga but missed out because they didn’t have two trials,” Spackman said.
“It was a bit hard on the club, and what can you do? These things happen.”
Of his choices, Spackman could head to Goulburn on Friday, where Rocket Tiger will likely run into the Scott Collings-trained Mogo Magic, which is another highly-fancied The Kosciuszko contender.
“Now we know he’s back, we’ve got a couple of options,” Spackman said.
“We might sneak down to Goulburn on Friday and put him up against those good horses, or we might swing him down to Sydney on Monday just to give him a look.
“Racing him is an option, too, and I am contemplating having a go at the Highway on the 16th (of September); there is a good little Class Three 1000m race for him, but weight might stop that.”
Spackman realises how important it is to have Rocket Tiger’s name out there, whether it be in a trial or race, which is why he is considering all his options.
“I think a lot of people have forgotten about him, and that’s because he hasn’t raced for a while,” Spackman said.
“A lot of people want to talk about Mogo Magic and Front Page, and Mitch (Beer) is pushing Mnementh, and Donna (Scott) is doing a good job promoting Our Last Cash, and if they get in, great work to them.
“Still, I reckon our fella should be there; I think he can match those, if not beat those horses.
“I just look back at the (Wagga) Town Plate, and things didn’t go our way, but he still finished it off and wasn’t beaten far by a couple of horses that will be in The Kosciuszko; if he gets a better run that day, I’ve got no doubt it’s a different result.”
While he’d love for Rocket Tiger to contest The Kosciuszko, Spackman said it won’t stop what should be a good preparation for his galloper and connections.
“It’s not the end all and be all,” Spackman said,
“Look, we’d love to be there, and I think he should be there, but there will be some nice races for him.”
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