Singapore “Legend” Rocket Man Dies Aged 20 After Colic

Rocket Man (Vicount), the only Singapore-based horse to win a Group 1 contest abroad, has died. 

Bred in New South Wales by Dean Fleming, Rocket Man raced in the colours of Fred Crabbia and was trained by Patrick Shaw.

His big day in the sun came when he beat the Bob Baffert-trained Euroears in the Golden Shaheen at Meydan in 2011. 

Rocket Man was reported to have died as a result of colic. He was 20. 

“It’s a very sad day,” his former trainer told The Strait Times. “He was the best horse I ever trained. When I think back how he fractured (condylar fracture of the offside cannon bone) his leg at his fifth win when he jumped the shadow that night and came back to go on and win 15 races including three internationals and a record four Lion City Cups (2009 to 2012), what a legend.”

He added, “Last Friday, Emma, his caregiver at the riding school where he stayed, called and said Rocket Man was a bit colicky, which is common for old horses. He was treated and seemed to have come round, but yesterday, he had the runs. It was the complications from salmonella, and the vets didn’t want him to suffer and decided to euthanise him.”