It was not lost on trainer David Pfeiffer he was celebrating his biggest win since returning from as nine-month ban for switching urine samples.
Rocketing By charged up the inside to salute in the $2 million Sydney Stakes at the ridiculous odds of $61, pipping In The Congo on the line with Weona Smartone third.
This time last year Pfeiffer was working in air-conditioning and pondering what sort of reception he would be given once he did return to racing from his lengthy disqualification. Pfeiffer was given a rock star reception – and could not thank the racing world for rallying behind him.
“The support I’ve had since I’ve come back from a ‘holiday’ has been great,” Pfeiffer said. “It’s good to get a horse like him back. He won a really good $1 million race for Inglis here 18 months ago.”
Rocketing By had a giant throng of owners, many who tried to carry Pfeiffer into the enclosure the last time he won a decent race for them.
Ridden a treat by Rachel King in the 1200m sprint at Randwick on Saturday, Rocketing By was initially going to be freshened up for a few sprints over the summer, but could yet be stretched to 1300m in a fortnight’s time.
Rachel King rides Rocketing By (No.14) to victory in the Sydney Stakes at a packed Royal Randwick.Credit:Getty
Pfeiffer revealed Rocketing By, whose earnings now sit just below $2 million, had spent plenty of time in Botany Bay the past fortnight to help with his feet.
“I was a bit worried we were a run short, but when the track kept improving I got a bit more confident,” Pfeiffer said. “He’s spent a lot of time down by the beach lately, so I daresay we’ll continue down that path. He loves the water down there, so we’ll consider what we do going forward.
“Whether we look at the [Nature Strip Stakes] or take a trip to Melbourne, we’ll let the dust settle from here.”
King, whose parents had made the long trek from the UK to Royal Randwick, said of Rocketing By’s triumph: “I sat on this horse for the first time when I trialled him the other day, and had him actually forward. I didn’t know if that was quite the way to ride him, but, geez, he gave me a good feel. He did the same again today, he just travelled. Coming into the top of the straight I had so much horse left.”
Remarque started favourite and Team Hawkes had big raps on the horse, only for him to finish eighth. Jockey Hugh Bowman said the four-year-old had to do too much work in the middle of the race, and it told the final 200m.
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