Horse Racing News: June 17, 2023
Group Three Winner Rocketing By Seeks Breakthrough in Eye Liner Stakes
(Ipswich, Australia) – Rocketing By, the talented six-year-old gelding, is set to take on the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich Racecourse this Saturday, seeking to end a 20-month drought since his last victory.
The David Pfieffer-trained runner has become somewhat of a Goldilocks when it comes to track conditions, as the trainer explains.
“He is one of those horses now that needs speed, needs that softer track. He’s a bit picky on what sort of tracks he is on. A good four is too firm, a soft seven is too wet, so he is a bit particular.”
Fortunately for Rocketing By, the Ipswich track is currently rated a soft 5, which the trainer believes will suit the horse perfectly as he bids to add another stakes victory to his impressive resume.
“He’s honest enough and he’s working well at home. We just need a bit of luck on the day now,” Pfieffer said.
The talented galloper has won five of his 36 career starts, with two of those victories coming in lucrative feature races. He famously won the $1 million Inglis Sprint as a three-year-old and then landed a boilover result in the $2 million Sydney Stakes the following spring.
While Saturday’s assignment will see Rocketing By extend beyond 1300 meters for the first time in his career, Pfieffer feels the time is right to try the new distance.
“It will be his first time over 1350, although he’s had a couple of runs over 1300 and gone well. It will be a new angle but as he’s getting older and he has been out of the winner’s circle for a while, you’ve got to try something different.”
Jockey Robbie Dolan, who rode Rocketing By to his maiden victory, will reunite with the gelding for the Eye Liner Stakes. Punters will be hoping the familiar combination can deliver a long-awaited triumph for the talented but quirky galloper.
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