New Zealand's champion 3-year-old stayer Rocket Spade is off to Hong Kong and may not race here again.
But co-trainer Andrew Scott says while no trainers like to lose their stable star, he and partner Lance O'Sullivan fully expected the move and factored it into their business model.
The Vodafone Derby winner in March after taking out both the Auckland and Avondale Guineas, Rocket Spade is in the running for 3-year-old of the year at thoroughbred racing's annual awards next month, and in any normal season would be a leading contender for Horse of the Year.
While Rocket Spade would be competitive in weight-for-age this season, which started yesterday as thoroughbred horses all officially change age on August 1, he will instead head to Hong Kong to join Caspar Fownes to be aimed at their prestigious derby, which is for 4-year-olds.
"We aren't surprised by that and feel lucky to have had him," says Scott. "His owner, Mr Chuang of Hermitage Thoroughbreds, would love to have a derby contender up there and maybe Rocket Spade can be that horse.