WHILE a heroine for native-bred fillies has already been determined with yesterday’s Thornbird Stakes, the search for a male counterpart is still on.

But as the Classic season draws closer and preparations intensify at the end of the 23rd running of the Prince Consort Stakes at Caymanas Park today for a purse of $1.1 million, the search could narrow as some of the most precocious colts and geldings will be competing for serious consideration to fill the vacant slot.

Those up for consideration are Rocketman, Talented Tony K, Mr Awesome, and a few other lesser lights in the form of Butler Cabin, Declaring War, Bars Of Gold, Relampego, and Unbreakable.

In the milieu of fierce activity, though, judging from early promise, Rocketman, the Philip Feanny-conditioned colt could take unto himself more than a slight edge.

What could add fuel to the fire in this race is the fact that Rocketman is not Princess Popstar, and that should prompt each competing trainer to harbour cogent ideas that this is horse racing and anything can happen.

This is why the Prince Consort Stakes is expected to present a hair-raising finish with the likes Mr Awesome, piloted by Dane Nelson, Relampago with Jevvanne Erwin up, Butler Cabin partnered by Shane Ellis, along with Declaring War with Dick Cardenas astride, and Unbreakable, ridden by Andre Martin, throwing the kitchen sink at Rocketman with Winston Griffiths at the helm.

Despite the hype about Rocketman, the feeling is that Bars Of Gold, the mount of Percy Williams, could easily win this race with Rocketman being saved for the bigger events.

A dark bay colt by He’s therealthing out of Gem Lea (Meadow Flight) bred at Ham Stables and owned by Balkrishen S Maraj, Bars Of Gold was a runaway winner on last. But now facing his most challenging effort could report vastly improved to complicate matters, despite top joint top weight with Talented Tony K of 57.0kg.

On the other hand, his stable companion Rocketman, a fashionably bred bay colt by Shuffling Madness, out of Shawnee Sunrise (Roar), bred by (YS (1955) Ltd) is the horse to beat.

But, while the distance of 1,400 could be a Sunday afternoon stroll on the track for Rocketman, one would expect to see him clatter his opponents with a vastly superior performance when stretched out.

As it now stands from his past performances, with the exception of his classy stablemate Princess Popstar, the present crop of native-bred three-year-olds could prove inferior in ability over the stamina-testing, two-turn distances.

Ones To Watch

Race 1 Audre’s Blessing (Rayan Wilson)

Race 2 Winit (Jemar Jackson)

Race 3 Agakhan (Dane Nelson)

Race 4 Sundown (Dane Nelson)

Race 5 One Creator (Trevor Simpson)

Race 6 Doc Holiday (Dane Nelson)

Race 7 Willingston (Randy Whitter)

Race 8 Bars Of Gold (Percy Williams)

Race 9 Raja Sarangi (Dane Nelson)