WATCH: Rockstar Icon reappears with promising 5th place finish at Newmarket in competitive handicap | Raceday Highlights
09 May 2024
Rockstar Icon returned to action for the first time since winning on New Year's Eve on Saturday at Newmarket on 2000 Guineas Day.
Following that victory at Lingfield on just his third run for the club, Rockstar Icon was given an opening handicap mark of 80. Saturday's contest was a Class 4 Handicap for horses rated 0-85, and our gelding was drawn in Stall 4 in a big field of 19 runners.
Race Review
Rockstar Icon broke from the stalls without any fuss under David Probert and was tucked in nicely just behind the leading pack. The majority of the field travelled well in the opening stages, and as they approached half way, Rockstar Icon was arguably travelling best of all.
As they approached the infamous 'dip', David started to get to work on Rockstar Icon who responded well, but as they entered the final furlong, he couldn't quite sustain his momentum to close the gap between him and the leading trio of Love Billy Boy (Richard Hannon), Kodiac Thriller (Charles Hills) and eventual winner, Key To Cotai (Ed Walker).
As they hit the line, Rockstar Icon ended up dead-heating for 5th place with Pedro Valentino, earning his 10 lucky Owners for the Day £600 in prize money to share.
Overall the team were very happy with the run from Rockstar Icon especially given it was his first trip to Newmarket which isn't the easiest of tracks to handle, and also seeing as it was his first competitive run for over five months.
Post-race update from Oliver Cole
We were delighted with Rockstar Icon’s Newmarket run, he travelled strongly through the race, and then just got a little bit tired late on, which was to be expected for his first run after a break. He showed a lovely attitude despite that, and to dead-heat for fifth in such a competitive, big field handicap, bodes well for the future.
He also handled the Newmarket ‘dip’ well, which means he’s a well-balanced horse who we can run at a variety of tracks, and David Probert felt he would stay a mile well, something his breeding would suggest, so we’ve got plenty of options for him.
He came out of the race absolutely fine, and he’ll have a few easy days before we get him back in work, but the race will have brought him on no end, there’s nothing like match fitness if you like, and he has that now. I see no reason why he shouldn’t be back out in the next three weeks or so, he’s certainly an exciting horse for us all to look forward to.
Following that victory at Lingfield on just his third run for the club, Rockstar Icon was given an opening handicap mark of 80. Saturday's contest was a Class 4 Handicap for horses rated 0-85, and our gelding was drawn in Stall 4 in a big field of 19 runners.
Race Review
Rockstar Icon broke from the stalls without any fuss under David Probert and was tucked in nicely just behind the leading pack. The majority of the field travelled well in the opening stages, and as they approached half way, Rockstar Icon was arguably travelling best of all.
As they approached the infamous 'dip', David started to get to work on Rockstar Icon who responded well, but as they entered the final furlong, he couldn't quite sustain his momentum to close the gap between him and the leading trio of Love Billy Boy (Richard Hannon), Kodiac Thriller (Charles Hills) and eventual winner, Key To Cotai (Ed Walker).
As they hit the line, Rockstar Icon ended up dead-heating for 5th place with Pedro Valentino, earning his 10 lucky Owners for the Day £600 in prize money to share.
Overall the team were very happy with the run from Rockstar Icon especially given it was his first trip to Newmarket which isn't the easiest of tracks to handle, and also seeing as it was his first competitive run for over five months.
Post-race update from Oliver Cole
We were delighted with Rockstar Icon’s Newmarket run, he travelled strongly through the race, and then just got a little bit tired late on, which was to be expected for his first run after a break. He showed a lovely attitude despite that, and to dead-heat for fifth in such a competitive, big field handicap, bodes well for the future.
He also handled the Newmarket ‘dip’ well, which means he’s a well-balanced horse who we can run at a variety of tracks, and David Probert felt he would stay a mile well, something his breeding would suggest, so we’ve got plenty of options for him.
He came out of the race absolutely fine, and he’ll have a few easy days before we get him back in work, but the race will have brought him on no end, there’s nothing like match fitness if you like, and he has that now. I see no reason why he shouldn’t be back out in the next three weeks or so, he’s certainly an exciting horse for us all to look forward to.
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