Raceday LIVE – Rockstar Icon
Brighton,
Mon 15 Sep 2025 16:12
Related horse(s):
Rockstar Icon
Rockstar Icon heads to East Sussex this afternoon as he runs in the Class 5 Handicap over seven furlongs at Brighton (16:12).
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track across our social channels on X (@CRCofficial) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Rockstar Icon makes his fourth start of the year this afternoon, in what has been a pretty quiet season for our four-year-old. Following promising runs at both Nottingham and Epsom in his first two runs of 2025, he failed to flatter at Southwell last time out, when stepping back down in trip to seven furlongs. Despite that disappointing run, thoughts of Rockstar Icon remain positive down at this trip, largely due to his sole victory coming over this distance on New Year's Eve of 2023.
Since his last run at Southwell, Oliver Cole decided to give him a short break from racing to allow him some more time to put fast work in on the gallops to get him up to full fitness. The view was initially to step him up in trip following his last run given that he has plenty of stamina in his pedigree. His sire, Sixties Icon, won the St Leger in 2006 and his dam, Shadows Ofthenight, won over two miles.
WATCH: Rockstar Icon leads from the front on the gallops
Rockstar Icon carried two entries for today, with the other being at Kempton in a race which shaped up to look tougher than this contest at Brighton, where Rockstar Icon will compete against five rivals. Of those rivals, two have landed victories over course and distance, including Brighton specialist Marsh Benham, who has won over a mile here three times on top of his sole victory over seven furlongs. The other former track and trip winner is Krancjar who, Coral Racing Club members may remember, lined up against Phoenix Of Dreams at Redcar last season, when our John and Sean Quinn-trained gelding scored for the first time. Of the other runners, Silent Flame is an eight time winner, but hasn't found success over seven furlongs, or at Brighton in her career, three of Blue Collar Lad's seven victories have come over today's distance and Tenbob Tommy lines up as the highest rated horse in the race, although he's only had four runs on the flat in his career, with no victories.
The ground is set to be Soft at Brighton, which could play into Rockstar Icon's hands given the stamina in his pedigree and our gelding has been drawn in stall four of six, which should keep him focussed in the early stages of the race, given that he'll have runners covering him on either side.
Raceday Update from Oliver Cole
"Rockstar Icon heads back over seven furlongs today.
He disappointed last time, but he’s working better now and the horses are in better form, so I'm happy to put a line through that run. When he won at Lingfield it was very smooth — that’s the ride he needs: jump and be in front or handy, let him roll in a rhythm, and start winding from three furlongs out.
He will sustain speed but he does not quicken and when he gets beaten, which has been frequent, it’s because he’s been buried, lost rhythm, or asked to quicken off a slow pace.
Good luck today!"
Chris Dixon, Racing TV analyst, previews today's 16:12 at Brighton and gives his opinion on how he thinks the race will play out
Rockstar Icon was disappointing at Southwell last time and hopes of a return form may rest on having had a short break since that run. The headgear worn at Southwell is quickly dispensed with and that may also help. Handicapping wise he’s well-treated so should he bounce back, he shouldn’t be far away though there are more solid horses in the race who arrive in form.
Kranjcar is one of those as he looks to land the hat-trick and his proven ability to handle the track is a plus. He looks the one to beat. Silent Flame is in form, and the handicapping case can be made on back form, though the suspicion is she might not be the force of old at the age of seven. Tactically I’d expect Rockstar Icon to sit close up and potentially make the running, while Kranjcar and Silent Flame won’t be far away form the tempo which is likely to be the right place to be.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Oliver Cole has only sent out eight horses in the last fortnight, and although it's been a while since the Whatcombe team have landed a winner, they have hit the crossbar twice in the last two weeks. Rockstar Icon is the first runner Oliver Cole has sent out since being the sole license holder as he looks to add to his one victory since taking over.
Kieran O'Neill looks to continue his form after scoring at Bath for Jeremy Scott yesterday and he'll be looking for his first win of the season at Bath too, having only had four rides there so far this year. Kieran O'Neill has only picked up eight career rides for the Whatcombe team, scoring on one of those occasions, and this will be the first time he's taken the reins for them this year. Kieran O'Neill, who is also one of the Coral Racing Ambassadors, will be looking to land his fifth win wearing the blue and white silks this afternoon, having won on Aspire To Glory four times already this season.
Rockstar Icon's Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Rockstar Icon's run at Brighton this afternoon.
What's included in an Owner for the Day prize?
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track across our social channels on X (@CRCofficial) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Rockstar Icon makes his fourth start of the year this afternoon, in what has been a pretty quiet season for our four-year-old. Following promising runs at both Nottingham and Epsom in his first two runs of 2025, he failed to flatter at Southwell last time out, when stepping back down in trip to seven furlongs. Despite that disappointing run, thoughts of Rockstar Icon remain positive down at this trip, largely due to his sole victory coming over this distance on New Year's Eve of 2023.
Since his last run at Southwell, Oliver Cole decided to give him a short break from racing to allow him some more time to put fast work in on the gallops to get him up to full fitness. The view was initially to step him up in trip following his last run given that he has plenty of stamina in his pedigree. His sire, Sixties Icon, won the St Leger in 2006 and his dam, Shadows Ofthenight, won over two miles.
WATCH: Rockstar Icon leads from the front on the gallops
Rockstar Icon carried two entries for today, with the other being at Kempton in a race which shaped up to look tougher than this contest at Brighton, where Rockstar Icon will compete against five rivals. Of those rivals, two have landed victories over course and distance, including Brighton specialist Marsh Benham, who has won over a mile here three times on top of his sole victory over seven furlongs. The other former track and trip winner is Krancjar who, Coral Racing Club members may remember, lined up against Phoenix Of Dreams at Redcar last season, when our John and Sean Quinn-trained gelding scored for the first time. Of the other runners, Silent Flame is an eight time winner, but hasn't found success over seven furlongs, or at Brighton in her career, three of Blue Collar Lad's seven victories have come over today's distance and Tenbob Tommy lines up as the highest rated horse in the race, although he's only had four runs on the flat in his career, with no victories.
The ground is set to be Soft at Brighton, which could play into Rockstar Icon's hands given the stamina in his pedigree and our gelding has been drawn in stall four of six, which should keep him focussed in the early stages of the race, given that he'll have runners covering him on either side.
Raceday Update from Oliver Cole
"Rockstar Icon heads back over seven furlongs today.
He disappointed last time, but he’s working better now and the horses are in better form, so I'm happy to put a line through that run. When he won at Lingfield it was very smooth — that’s the ride he needs: jump and be in front or handy, let him roll in a rhythm, and start winding from three furlongs out.
He will sustain speed but he does not quicken and when he gets beaten, which has been frequent, it’s because he’s been buried, lost rhythm, or asked to quicken off a slow pace.
Good luck today!"
Chris Dixon, Racing TV analyst, previews today's 16:12 at Brighton and gives his opinion on how he thinks the race will play out
Rockstar Icon was disappointing at Southwell last time and hopes of a return form may rest on having had a short break since that run. The headgear worn at Southwell is quickly dispensed with and that may also help. Handicapping wise he’s well-treated so should he bounce back, he shouldn’t be far away though there are more solid horses in the race who arrive in form.
Kranjcar is one of those as he looks to land the hat-trick and his proven ability to handle the track is a plus. He looks the one to beat. Silent Flame is in form, and the handicapping case can be made on back form, though the suspicion is she might not be the force of old at the age of seven. Tactically I’d expect Rockstar Icon to sit close up and potentially make the running, while Kranjcar and Silent Flame won’t be far away form the tempo which is likely to be the right place to be.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Oliver Cole has only sent out eight horses in the last fortnight, and although it's been a while since the Whatcombe team have landed a winner, they have hit the crossbar twice in the last two weeks. Rockstar Icon is the first runner Oliver Cole has sent out since being the sole license holder as he looks to add to his one victory since taking over.
Kieran O'Neill looks to continue his form after scoring at Bath for Jeremy Scott yesterday and he'll be looking for his first win of the season at Bath too, having only had four rides there so far this year. Kieran O'Neill has only picked up eight career rides for the Whatcombe team, scoring on one of those occasions, and this will be the first time he's taken the reins for them this year. Kieran O'Neill, who is also one of the Coral Racing Ambassadors, will be looking to land his fifth win wearing the blue and white silks this afternoon, having won on Aspire To Glory four times already this season.
Rockstar Icon's Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Rockstar Icon's run at Brighton this afternoon.
What's included in an Owner for the Day prize?
- Free racecourse entry
- Access to the Owners & Trainers enclosure
- Access to the Parade Ring before the race
- Meet Rockstar Icon and the Oliver Cole team
- Take home a 10% share of any prize money he wins
Prize Money
Today's Class 5 contest is worth £8,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop a £4,187 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,964 | 3rd: £981 | 4th: £491 | 5th: £244
Pipped At The Post – Exclusive for Members
Get paid as a WINNER in CASH up to a stake of £/€10 if your horse finishes 2nd by a head or less behind the winner in today's 16:12 at Brighton – click here to find out more.
16:12 BRIGHTON – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 16:12 to watch Rockstar Icon's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
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