Putting a tough 18-month period behind him, trainer David Pfieffer has engineered a major boilover on The Everest undercard, producing $61 outsider Rocketing By to snare the Group 3 Sydney Stakes.
It was Rocketing By’s second significant win after he captured the $1 million Inglis Sprint in 2021 but his form had tapered off in subsequent preparations as he battled to overcome a series of setbacks.
The Sydney Stakes (1200m) was Rocketing By’s fourth run this campaign and he appreciated the drying track and solid tempo to zoom along the fence and dive through late to score.
Pfieffer was thrilled to see the horse back to his best and admitted he thought he might have been a run short.
“He’s had knee surgery, he’s had issues with his feet and to get the result, it’s phenomenal,” Pfieffer said.
“I was a bit worried we were a run short but when the track kept improving, I got a bit more confident.
“He’s spent a lot of time down by the beach lately, so I daresay we’ll continue down that path.”
The victory was also a personal triumph for Pfieffer, who was last year disqualified for nine months over the substitution of a urine sample in 2019 before returning to training earlier this year.
He prepared Rocketing By for his Inglis Sprint win in 2021 and the horse’s connections sent him back to the Warwick Farm horseman after Pfieffer had served his penalty.
Saturday’s win was Pfieffer’s most significant since returning to the training ranks, the $1.15 million first prizemoney cheque taking the bank balance of the $22,000 yearling purchase to just shy of $2 million.
It was also a timely feature race success for jockey Rachel King whose parents had jetted over from the UK to be trackside for the Everest meeting.
Rocketing By ($61) scored by a half-head over In The Congo ($6) with Weona Smartone ($19) the same margin away third.
Remarque started favourite and was trapped wide on the speed but fought gamely to finish eighth and less than two lengths from the winner.
