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Emirates Singapore Derby placegetter Rockfast may find the seven furlongs of the $100,000 Open Benchmark 83 race a little too sharp this Friday, but trainer Mark Walker is still banking on a forward run that will keep him tuned up for his next big mission.

The son of Fastnet Rock is being aimed at the Group 3 Committee’s Prize over the mile on September 18, and depending on how things pan out thereafter, it may then be onwards and upwards towards a much bigger fish on November 20, the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m.

Walker is, however, skirting around the traditional lead-ups to the time-honoured race, the first two Legs of the Singapore Triple Crown series of which the Gold Cup is the grand final, the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) and the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m).

He plotted the same path with another Te Akau Racing horse last year, Sebrose. Steer clear of weight-for-age races while picking enough points along the way to make the cut with a low enough handicap.

Sebrose even claimed the perfect trial race, the Group 3 El Dorado Classic (2200m) with the late Tim Bell three weeks before the Gold Cup, in which he ran on for a cracking fourth to Cooptado.

After one third and four unplaced runs this year, the son of Sebring was recently shipped back to New Zealand to continue his racing career, which connections felt would have been stunted in Singapore due to a lack of staying events. He is now with Te Akau’s Kiwi training partnership of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards at Matamata.

As much as there was a parallel between the five-time Kranji winner’s road to Gold and Rockfast’s, Walker would not swap them for anything in the world.

“Sebrose has done well for us here, winning five races and running a nice fourth in the Gold Cup but there is nothing for him here,” said the Singapore champion trainer.

“The owners decided to bring him back to New Zealand where he will be aimed towards the Auckland Cup over two miles next year. His dam Bramble Rose won the New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in 2003.

“I will keep an eye on his new career, but to me, even though they are going for a more or less similar career path, Rockfast is a much better horse than him.

“He’s come back fit after his good third (to Well Done) in the Derby. We just gave him a freshen-up at the stables and he’s bright and well.

“The Committee’s Prize is his next goal, but we will not run him in the weight-for-age races like the Kranji Mile or the Raffles Cup. We will concentrate directly on the Gold Cup.”

Walker has booked Olivier Placais on Rockfast in Friday’s contest while his regular partner Manoel Nunes has instead picked Walker’s main chance, Viviano, with whom he won his last two races (1200m and 1400m).

“Obviously the 1400m will be too short for Rockfast. That’s why Manoel picked Viviano instead,” said Walker.

“Viviano has been a funny horse since he’s been here. He showed New Zealand form over 1600m, but he’s been more of a sprinter here, even winning over 1000m.

“He’s got a light weight and has a good chance on Sunday. But look, you never know, if things go Rockfast’s way, he can run a good race, too.”

Placais, who had no rides on Friday until Walker threw him that last-minute booking, was delighted to jump aboard a fairly decent chance even if he is aware they may see a few rears early in the piece.

“Rockfast is a nice horse, but the distance is too short,” said the Frenchman.

“Still, I will go in and give him a bit of a wake-up before the start. I was told he runs better with some cut in the ground, so if it rains, he may cause a small surprise.”