Rocket Tiger to focus on Sires after running third in Black Opal

But Wagga trainer Scott Spackman remains bullish about his stable star and will now target the $500,000 group one Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick on April 3.

After drawing barrier one the Black Opal $3 favourite was taken to the lead by jockey Kathy O'Hara for the first time in his short career, but finished third in the 1200m feature after he was overtaken by the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Kalashnikov, with Hawkes galloper Solar Winds second.

Spackman remained upbeat after the result and will focus on getting Rocket Tiger ready for the Sires'.

"They broke a track record. I wasn't that concerned to be honest with you," he said.

"We had to ride him so he wouldn't get caught behind any slow ones. He's certainly a better chaser so we'll go back to the drawing board. The Slipper was a dream he couldn't conquer, but that's life."

Rocket Tiger also experienced bad luck in the group two Silver Slipper at Rosehill a fortnight ago, with the winner earning automatic entry into the Golden Slipper.

He struggled to find room to move in the straight and finished strongly once he found clear air to run second behind Home Affairs.

"That dream's over. The horse was probably telling us all along he's a Sires horse anyhow, and we're nominated for that," Spackman said.

"He really had to win today (to run in the Slipper) to be honest and we had a quick talk after today's run to see how he pulled up.

"We'll live to fight another day and we've still got a bloody good horse. I think he'll be fine in the Sires as long as he gets a good trail into it."

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