Rocket to skip Sprint Trophy

Blue Rocket will remain in Listed company rather than contest Saturday’s paddypower.com Sprint Trophy at York.

Danny Murphy’s filly, owned by agent Willie McKay and footballers Joey Barton and Trevor Sinclair, finished a fine third in the Nell Gwyn Stakes when trained by Tim Pitt – although she went on to disappoint in the 1000 Guineas.

Blue Rocket did not run for four and a half months, in which time Murphy had taken over at Pitt’s Bawtry stable, but pleased in her racecourse reappearance when a close third to Loch Verdi in the Flower of Scotland Stakes.

“Blue Rocket is going for a Listed race at Newmarket on October 19 (the EBF Boadicea Stakes),” said Murphy.

“We were delighted at Hamilton and she really has been flying since. John Egan got off her and said it was a very good run.

“We’ll keep her for Newmarket rather than York and she definitely would stay in training next season.

“We are running out of time slightly this season but were she to win the Listed race, we would have to find something abroad.”