Singapore for Rockfast

The Informant reports:

Tentative Queensland winter carnival plans for talented three-year-old Rockfast have been shelved in favour of continuing his career in Singapore with Te Akau Racing's Kranji-based trainer Mark Walker.

The Fastnet Rock colt resumed at Te Rapa on Saturday when third to smart filly Stolen Dance in the Clubhouse Sports Bar Premier. On ground better than he prefers that resulted in a sub-1:35 1600 metres, he hit the line hard from well back, but gave Te Akau principal David Ellis cause to reflect on future plans.

“I'm going to recommend to his owners that he is gelded and then be sent to Mark in Singapore,” Ellis told www.theinformant.co.nz. “With their permission that will take place this week and we'll then give him a month in the paddock before sending him up.

“Being a colt he carries a bit too much condition around his neck and shoulders, but that can be corrected by gelding.

“We see him as a horse that could win the Singapore Derby, which is for four-year-olds, and he should also be ideal for racing on the Polytrack at Kranji.”

That plan would follow a similar regime with the smart Te Akau galloper Flying Fulton, who was transferred to Singapore after being gelded at the end of his local two and three-year-old career.

“He became a very good horse up there,” Ellis said. “He won the Polytrack Championship and stakes of $1.2 million (and was named Polytrack Horse of the Year). Rockfast is a very similar type and by sending him to Singapore I believe his owners would get maximum potential from him.”

While the winner of just one of his 11 starts, Rockfast has not been far off this season's best three-year-olds, with his placings including seconds in the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Great Northern Guineas and Karaka 3YO Mile.

Three more wins at Kranji over the weekend have allowed Mark Walker to maintain a handy lead on the trainers' table. His tally stands at 35, 10 ahead of his nearest rival, as he seeks his first Singapore premiership to go with five New Zealand titles.