Trainer Patrick Shaw has made the heart-wrenching decision to withdraw ROCKET MAN from the International Group 1 $1 million KrisFlyer International Sprint over 1200m on May 19.   The 2011 KrisFlyer winner hasn’t raced since winning last year’s Group 1 Lion City Cup (1200m) before his withdrawal on the Wednesday prior to last year’s KrisFlyer with a swollen suspensory ligament.  

ROCKET MAN suffered a minor setback after working last Saturday morning and Shaw said he had run out of time to have the gelding ready for Sunday week’s race.   “He had some slight swelling in the joint on the near foreleg after he worked on Saturday,” said Shaw. “That has forced us to miss some work and so he hasn’t had the ideal preparation for this year’s race. He’s got a minor suspensory issue and screws in his other leg and because of that I’ve been reluctant to trial him at this stage as the track is a bit firm. He trotted up fine yesterday afternoon but you just don’t need to miss any work going into an International Group 1. We would love to be there, but unfortunately we can’t.”