With Hong Kong's Dynamic Blitz to have a thorough hit-out this morning in Dubai in preparation for his tilt at the US$2 million Golden Shaheen on March 26, Singapore's champion sprinter, Rocket Man, reminded everyone on Sunday that he is right on target for the same race.
The unlucky runner-up in last year's Golden Shaheen and narrowly touched out in December in the Hong Kong Sprint, Rocket Man coasted around Kranji's polytrack to win the RDA Cup (1,200m) in what was little more than a paid barrier trial.
With Barend Vorster aboard, Rocket Man rewarded his backers with a S$5.30 dividend for every S$5 bet in scoring by almost six lengths and taking his record to 13 wins from 17 starts and topping the S$3 million (HK$18.45 million) prize-money mark.
Trainer Patrick Shaw asked Vorster to ride Rocket Man behind a quick stablemate in the early stages and attempt to settle the five-year-old.
'It was important to try to get him to settle. He did it beautifully and we know he is spot on now looking forward to Dubai,' Shaw said, adding everything was on schedule, with Rocket Man to leave Singapore on March 19.
'We'll get him X-rayed, as we always do, before he goes. With horses like him you just hope they come back sound.'