K.D. ROCKET set for take-off
K.D. ROCKET tried to pull a fast one on rivals, going six furlongs on October 16, but was cut down by ALEXA’S LODGE inside the final furlong after ripping splits of 22.4, 34.1 and 45.4 into the lane.
Despite coming around from an outside draw to dismiss SPEECHLESS from the half-mile marker, K.D. ROCKET still had enough in the tank to hold off last Sunday’s return winner, LET HIM FLY, for second behind out-of-class ALEXA’S LODGE.
Returning among familiar company at five and a half furlongs in Sunday’s nightpan, K.D. ROCKET had all of HELICOPTER, COLD PURSUIT, SILENT SEEKER, HIGH DIPLOMACY and WEEKEND JAZZ behind him when beaten by ALEXA’S LODGE.
K.D. ROCKET’s four other rivals – IAMACITIZEN, STEVIE THE GREAT, NO WORK PERMIT, STRIKE AT WILL and DANNY SPUD – would have to run their best races ever to beat Gary Subratie’s runner, should he return in the same form when collared by ALEXA’S LODGE a furlong out with 59.0 on the clock.
However, the question to be asked of Subratie is: what in the world could have prompted him to remove K.D. ROCKET’s tongue tie?
The run-on sprinter has worn a tongue tie in all 21 career starts, finishing in the first three on 16 occasions - three wins, eight second-place finishes and five third-place runs.
Despite the seemingly dubious change of equipment, Subratie summoning Robert Halledeen to go two pounds overweight aboard K.D. ROCKET suggests confidence is high in the camp after the gelding’s last outing.
K.D. ROCKET is even better drawn tomorrow than his previous outing. Breaking in mid-track, Halledeen should have the race by the scruff of its neck leaving the half-mile with no contending speed to deny him a ground-saving run into the lane.
K.D. ROCKET should close a double for the jockey-trainer combination.
ITIZ WHAT ITIZ’third-place run behind RING CHARMER six and a half furlongs exposed her capabilities, never far off a 1:14.0 six-furlong split after being slowly into stride. Ignore her last outing at four furlongs straight.