Winner: Rocket Man (Viscount-Macrosa)
Race: SingTC Lion City Cup G1 (1200m)
Sold for: $60,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Tyreel Thoroughbred Stud
Buyer: World Wide Bloodstock
Earnings: $1,394,648
Owner(s): Fred Crabbia
Trainer: Patrick Shaw (Singapore)

Rocket Man confirmed his status as one of the world’s great sprinters with a scintillating performance in tonight’s Group One Lion City Cup (1200m) at Kranji.

The Singapore champion led from start to finish in a truly dominant performance.

The son of Viscount, narrowly beaten at his most recent run in the Golden Shaheen in Dubai, bounced back to his brilliant best.

Under regular rider Robbie Fradd, Rocket Man cruised home to beat Waikato by two and a quarter lengths, while Cheyenne Dancer was another three quarters of a length away in third place.

For Fradd the result was welcomed after what was described in Singapore as a “debacle” when he rode Rocket Man off the speed at the Dubai World Cup meeting.

“It’s not a monkey off my back – it’s a gorilla,” Fradd said.

“There was a bit of pressure on me after Dubai. There was a bit of a hiccup and it was my fault.”

“I have to thank Pat (Shaw) and Fred (Crabbia, owner) for sticking by me – this horse means the world to me.”

“I’ve ridden a lot of good horses over my time. It is hard to judge horses over different distances, but I have no hesitation in declaring this horse as the best sprinter I have ridden.”

“He has a really high cruising speed. He just breaks their hearts which he did today.”

Patrick Shaw was almost lost for words after the race.

“What more can I say about him,” a proud trainer beamed. “He’s a superstar!”

“He’s back on track and the KrisFlyer is right on target.”

“That’s the way to ride him and he’s proven yet again he is one class above.”

South African based owner Fred Crabbia said connections had options at Royal Ascot and Hong Kong later in the year, but the priority for now is the KrisFlyer International on May 16.

Last year Rocket Man beat all but Sacred Kingdom in the KrisFlyer and connections are determined to go one better in the $1 million feature in 2010.

Rocket Man is turning into a great advertisement to the Australian thoroughbred industry – being bred in New South Wales, by a West Australian based stallion and sold in Queensland.

He was purchased by leading South African based bloodstock agent Andy Williams for $60,000 from the draft of Tyreel Stud at the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. He’s earned the equivalent of about $1.4 million already.

Rocket Man is from the twice stakes winning McGinty mare Macrosa and is a half brother to the multiple Group One winning South African star Our Giant – another Magic Millions graduate.

This year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale will be held at the Gold Coast from June 6.