Krypton Factor's trainer disappointed over Rocket Man no-show

The darling of Singapore racing was scratched from the six-furlong sprint yesterday because of a swollen ligament.

Rocket Man was the main favourite to win this race had he competed.

Fawzi Nass was downbeat yesterday about the injury to Rocket Man ahead of Sunday's Krisflyer International Sprint at Kranji Racecourse.

The Bahraini trainer sent out Krypton Factor to easily account for the darling of Singapore racing when the two met in the Dubai Golden Shaheen in March. Rocket Man went down by just over two lengths at Meydan Racecourse and was scratched from the six-furlong sprint yesterday because of a swollen ligament.

Although Nass could be forgiven for a feeling of joy at Rocket Man's absence he underlined that the Group 1 contest is worse off without last year's winner.

"It's a pity Rocket Man is out of the race as we were looking forward to the rematch, especially on his home ground," Nass said. "The race had a lot more credit with Rocket Man, but we still have to win it."

Krypton Factor was still recovering from his travels yesterday and had a canter over 1,100 metres on polytrack under work rider Hamed Hasan. "I was planning to give him a hit out this morning but I changed my mind," Nass said. "I thought I'd give him one more day to recuperate.

"He didn't eat much in the first couple of days. He's lost a bit of weight but it's nothing to worry about."

Kieren Fallon was on Krypton Factor for the 10th time when the pair won in Dubai and the Irish jockey is set to fly out to Singapore to resume his partnership with the improving four-year-old gelding.

"I don't remember riding a horse whose speed figures have risen so sharply," Fallon said in a British newspaper column. "His progress this spring has been remarkable and if he is in the same form as he was at Meydan he will win again."

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& Geoffrey Riddle