Ascend proves to be the Ablest
Ascend proves to be the Ablest
Often referred to as the unkindest cut, a gelding operation turned out to be the key to Ablest Ascend (Charm Spirit) showcasing his true ability on Saturday.
Underwhelming at his first two runs as a colt at Kranji, when his cantankerous ways proved costly at the start, the son of Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) put in a much more professional turn in the HK$75,000 Restricted Maiden (1200m) this time around.
Jumping on terms, Ablest Ascend ($19) was sent straight to the head of affairs by jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin, who then threw out the anchors to give his mount a nice breather midrace.
River Brilliance (Real Saga), who had been on Ablest Ascend’s hammer from the start, issued a strong challenge in the straight, but Beuzelin still had a lapful after the soft lead they enjoyed.
Responding to the Frenchman’s strong urgings, Ablest Ascend found a second wind to go and finish in advance of the fast-finishing Lim’s Dreamwalker (Dream Ahead) by half-a-length. Though green as grass, Steven Burridge’s Lim’s Dreamwalker flashed home down the middle of the track to just pip River Brilliance for second place by a nose.
The winning time was 1min 10.83secs for the 1200m on the Long Course on turf.
“He took a lot of improvement from the gelding operation,” said Clements.
“The trainer (Trevor Sutherland) rated him highly in Australia. He raced twice there and didn’t show as much.
“He didn’t run very well at his two starts here either. We decided to geld him and he has really furnished out since.
“He ran two lovely trials where he showed a lot of speed, and he showed that again today in his race.
“Louis rated him very well. Turning for home, the horse had a lot of petrol in the tank after they had a soft lead, he was sitting up at the top of the straight.”
Clements was not too disappointed with his second runner, the better-fancied Tigarous (Dragon Pulse) who momentarily looked like he would finish the best when he came with a storming run from midfield, but the Irish-bred peaked on his run to run fifth, three and a half lengths off his stablemate.
Suffering from dehydration after the race, Tigarous’ rider Vlad Duric was subsequently stood down from the remainder of the meeting. Following that withdrawal, the current leading jockey will be sweating on his 11-win lead on Ruan Maia not getting whittled down during the course of the day.
“It was too short for Tigarous. He’s looking for further,” said Clements.
“He did it the hard way out wide. He ran on but he was one-paced in the end.”
The Clements-Beuzelin pair went on to saddle a race-to-race double when Iron Ruler (Dissident) took out the HK$50,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over the Polytrack mile with consummate ease.
With that 41st winner, Clements pulls on the yellow jersey as he wrests the lead from three-time Singapore champion trainer Mark Walker (40 winners).
Absolute thriller from Absolvido
Steven Burridge was not exactly looking forward to the long road home, until his last runner Absolvido (Rip Van Winkle) came to his rescue in the penultimate race on Saturday.
The Australian trainer had no joy with his previous seven runners, with Lim’s Dreamwalker’s second in the second race his best result.
But Absolvido ($65), a horse he probably did not consider as his best chance of the day, but who he always knew was not without ability and just needed luck in the running, turned his drab day on its head thanks to a withering finishing burst in the HK$50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m.
At the 300m mark, favourite Water Rocket (Orpen) was getting plenty of cheers from his backers when he shook off his biggest threat Boomba (Showcasing) while Miracle (Stratum) seemed one-paced.
Absolvido was also in hot pursuit after he snuck up right behind the fighting trio but his acceleration did not have that lethal element to it.
On the other hand, War Frontier (Declaration Of War) and Rambo (Heliostatic) were finishing like mail trains, but just when we thought one of them would steal the race, Absolvido suddenly sprouted wings inside the last 50m on the nearside of War Frontier to stick his neck in front right on the line.
Despite his late flourish, Rambo got there a fraction too late, having to settle for second place with Water Rocket hanging on for third place another short head away.
As for War Frontier, he had every chance but could not quite finish it off to run fourth another half-a-length away. Absolvido clocked 1min 10.02secs for the 1200m on the Long Course on turf.
“I had a bad day all day, one horse (Lim’s Dreamwalker) ran second and some were caught four wide,” said Burridge.
“I’ll be honest. This horse (Absolvido) always runs good but he always gets back to last and makes things tougher for himself, he needs a good pace.
“Today, I told Simon to ride the fence and ride him for luck. That’s how he runs and even won last time (February 9) with JP (John Powell).
“Unfortunately you can’t ride him different. When the run is right, he will be around the mark.
“He’s an honest horse, but he has not been an easy horse to ride or train. This is a horse Wade (son) bought and it’s good to see him win again.”
Racing under Burridge’s name, the seven-year-old has rounded up a record of five wins and nine placings from 30 starts for close to HK$185,000 in prizemoney.
Hugo a winning chance ride for Kellady
Trainer Stephen Gray was in high spirits after stable pet Hugo (Smart Missile) rang up a double for the yard on Saturday.
Earlier on, newcomer Sure Will Do (Per Incanto) struck at his first start for one of Gray’s favourite owners, Mr Chen Chin Sang and wife Elaine. Two and a half hours later, it’s the family’s favourite who scores in the HK$70,000 Class 3 speed scamper over 1000m.
Gray was in impish mood as he headed home early (no runners in the last two of the 11-race card) with a second win in the bag.
“Missus won’t be grumpy at home. I’ll pour myself a nice gin, have a lovely home-cooked dinner, and I might even get the bonus!” he said.
“Hugo stuck on well at his last run in Class 2, he had a light weight on his back then. He won a nice race today, he has been a great moneyspinner to us.
“We trained his grandmother (Go Getter) and his mother (Princess Katie) and Hugo was the first foal. He has always put his hand up when things were not so good for us, he’s been a great contributor – helps pay the school fees for sure.”
Another person who may well down a few celebratory drinks following the unfancied HK$74 shot’s pulsating win is Matthew Kellady, the lucky replacement jockey after champion jockey Vlad Duric was stood down after one race for dehydration.
The Malaysian turned in an inspired ride that is likely to get the stamp of approval from Duric as well.
After allowing the five-year-old to tack onto the blistering speed set by the Cliff Brown duo of Ararat Lady (Battle Paint) and Lonhro Gold (Denman) around five lengths off in fifth place, Kellady stoked him up for his run upon straightening.
Ararat Lady looked home and hosed at the 200m, but under Kellady’s persuader, Hugo wore down the game mare with every stride to get up by half-a-length.
The third Brown galloper Bluestone (Hallowed Crown) steamed home from the ruck to run third another length away. The winning time was 58.39 seconds for the Polytrack 1000m.
“I had no rider for him at first and thought of putting my apprentice Winston (Cheah Wei Wen) on,” said Gray.
“Vlad then rang up for the ride, but he got sick. I put Matt on because he has been helping me out for a long time.
“He rode Hugo beautifully.”
With that fifth win in 19 starts, Hugo has now taken his total prizemoney past the quarter of a million mark for the Grays.
Gray tags Sure Will Do as ‘next good horse’
Trainer Stephen Gray was effusive of impressive debut winner Sure Will Do (Per Incanto) even if the NZ$210,000 purchase put a relatively modest field to the sword in the HK$20,000 Open Maiden race over 1200m on Saturday.
Gray bought the four-year-old as a yearling in New Zealand, keen as mustard to get him for his wonderful owners, the Chens, who happened to have also spotted him from the catalogue.
The scintillating work on the training tracks, including three barrier trial wins leading all of the way, left Gray with absolutely no regret parting with the hefty amount of money at the sale, but unfortunately, a few setbacks held his Kranji debut up.
Sure Will Do was finally primed for his baptism of fire on Saturday, duly obliging with a dominant win under champion apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong, but if Gray were to have any gripe, it was the paltry stakes his new prized charge had to run for.
“He was supposed to have his first race in a Restricted Maiden race over 1200m worth HK$75,000 one month ago, but he had a viral infection, he was quite crook and unfortunately, we couldn’t run him,” said the Kiwi handler.
“There was this Open Maiden race today, but the prizemoney of HK$20,000 is not substantial for such a high-prized horse, but the Chens were good about it and said let’s get racing.”
Going straight as a die to the front, the Chens’ (staunch supporters of the Gray yard with other horses like Wecando, Darc Bounty among others) new pride and joy travelled well within himself on the fence.
He had some horses hanging around in the first two-thirds of the race, but once the handbrakes were off, he kissed them goodbye in the style of an even-money favourite.
Skipping clear effortlessly, Sure Will Do went on to gap his rivals, relegating Miej (Deep Field) by two and three quarter lengths with the latter’s stablemate Almugir (Union Rags) in third place, another three-quarter length away. The winning time was 1min 10.89secs for the 1200m on the Long Course on turf.
“I bought him as a yearling. Mr and Mrs Chen picked him, and I also liked him so much I kept bidding,” said Gray.
“He is out of a mare (Eloa) who was the dam of a good horse for Paul Hickman some time back, Kallisan. He won three races, but unfortunately, he had wind issues and we sold him.
“Eloa comes from a good foundation family at the Little Avondale Stud. We gave Sure Will Do time, and Ilone Kelly in New Zealand also did a great job with his pre-training.
“He came to us as a big horse and was always meant to be a nice three-year-old, but then COVID-19 struck and delayed his debut.
“I actually think COVID-19 has been good to him, as he gave him more time to strengthen up. He could be my next good horse.”
Gray’s second runner Ksatria (Reliable Man) can also be credited of a good run after he ran on for fourth place four lengths off Sure Will Do.