Rocket Spade (foaled 21 October 2017)
is an Australian-bred racehorse who is owned and trained in
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
. In 2021 he won the 146th running of the
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run over a distance of 2,400 metres (12 furlongs) at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day o ...
.
Background
Rocket Spade was bred by Sun Kingdom in Australia and sold through the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale for A$425,000. He is by Fastnet Rock out of a Fusaichi Pegasus mare, whose half-sister Soriano won two Group One races in New Zealand.
Racing career
2019/20: three-year-old season
Trained by
Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott at Matamata, Rocket Spade made his debut on his home track in September 2020 with a strong come-from-behind win. He finished second in his second start, then ran fourth in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa and fifth in the Group 1
New Zealand 2000 Guineas
The 2000 Guineas is a Group One set-weight Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 metres at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Christchurch New Zealand cup week
The New Zealand 2000 Guineas is hel ...
.
Upon his return to the north, Rocket Spade scored impressive wins in the Group 2 Auckland Guineas and Avondale Guineas, with a placing against older horses in between times.
Sent out as the favourite in the New Zealand Derby, Rocket Spade produced a strong finish from last to edge out Milford and Frontman in a three-way battle to the finish.
In April 2021 Rocket Spade was placed 8th in the
Australian Derby behind Explosive Jack and Young Werther.
On 13 September 2021 Rocket Spade was exported to Hong Kong.
See also
*
2021 New Zealand Derby
*
Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand
References
2017 racehorse births
Racehorses bred in Australia
Racehorses trained in New Zealand
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