With the $150,000 late entry fee paid, Rocket Tiger is bound for a crack at the $3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill on Saturday.
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Wagga trainer Scott Spackman had ruled out pressing on towards the world's richest two-year-old race after finishing third in the Black Opal earlier this month.
However with Rocket Tiger coming through the run so well, the chance to race in one of Australia's most prestigious races was too hard to ignore.
"I thought it was a no-brainer," Spackman said.
"You just have to forget the Canberra run and go off his previous form. The horse is showing me every indication he wants to be there.
"I've been trying to find an excuse not to."
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His track work on Saturday cemented Spackman's decision to head towards the Slipper.
He couldn't be happier with the son of Cluster.
"We wouldn't even be contemplating this if there was an inkling he wasn't right," Spackman said.
Spackman is also delighted with the support shown by owners and breeders Noel, Maria and Scott Penfold.
Not only to take the chance with the late payment but to allow Spackman to be part of the ride with the talented two-year-old.
"It's every trainer's dream and every owner's dream," Spackman said. "This is as big as the Melbourne Cup for us, if not bigger.
"I just can't thank Maria, Scott and Noel enough for having the faith in the horse and myself to do this.
"Let's face it, if anyone else owned this horse the horse would be with a Sydney trainer by now but he's always had faith, always stuck solid."
Rocket Tiger pushed hard to lead the Black Opal field but couldn't sustain the frenetic pace.
It had led Spackman to change course in favour of the $500,000 group one Sires Produce Stakes before the change of heart.
"We rode him to take bad luck out of the equation and it was a bit of a backfire but they did run time and we caused it," he said.
"That's what keeps sticking in mind and he's pulled up an absolute treat from it."
Spackman is hoping to land inside the first eight in Tuesday's barrier draw.
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Courtney Rees
Courtney is a sports journalist from The Daily Advertiser focusing on Group Nine, Southern Inland, cricket, harness racing and greyhound racing.
Courtney is a sports journalist from The Daily Advertiser focusing on Group Nine, Southern Inland, cricket, harness racing and greyhound racing.
