Rocket Tiger claims second for Wagga trainer Scott Spackman in dramatic Silver Slipper at Rosehill

Owned by the Penfold family, the team from Wagga served it up to some of racing's biggest names in the $250,000 group two event.

They were beaten only a neck by Chris Waller's Home Affairs ($3.60, ridden by James McDonald), but beat home runners from the Cummings, Freedman, Hawkes and Snowden stables, and survived a protest.

Jockey Kathy O'Hara settled Rocket Tiger ($16) midfield on the fence.

Entering the straight, they had to fight their way out of a pocket and it might have cost them the chance to run down the winner.

"It just goes to show that he's up to it," a joyous Spackman said on his way home.

"He always was. We've never wavered from that opinion and I'm just so rapt for the horse and the owners.

"It's a big achievement to come from Wagga and do this sort of stuff. I'm still pinching myself.

"He should've won. An ounce of luck and he wins."

A protest by Snowden's King of Sparta (fourth) was dismissed.

"That was frivolous. He definitely come out but it was just him being a cheeky bugger trying to get out," he said.

Spackman praised O'Hara's ride to put the horse in the finish.

Rocket Tiger immediately appeared at $34 in Golden Slipper markets, though is not yet nominated for the $3.5 million dollar classic on March 20.

"I think he's up to it... but that's a pretty big race. We've got to sit down and work it out," Spackman said.

The next step is likely the group three Black Opal Stakes in Canberra on Sunday March 7, or the group two Todman Stakes at Randwick on March 6.

But Spackman says the fight in the horse, as well as his ability, means he wouldn't be out of place at Rosehill in a month in one of Australia's greatest races.

"He won't shirk the task if he gets a crack at it," he said of the Slipper.

Rocket Tiger has had just three starts (two wins and a second) and racked up more than $116,000 in prizemoney, helped by the $46,000 payday on Saturday. But they weren't far off the $140,000 earn for the winner.

Spackman also had Tocatchacod run fifth in the SDRA Country Championships Qualifier at Wagga at $51.

"He ran an incredible race. He was given every chance. I think Josh (Richards) rode him a treat," Spackman said.

"He only got beaten a length-and-a-half. That's an achievement in itself for that little horse. He's a 1200m horse and he's done a great job."