Back-on-song Sacred Croix gives Walker a treble
A big leap in class proved to be no barrier to Sacred Croix’s (Savabeel) recent form resurrection on Saturday.
A four-in-a-row winner early in his Kranji career, Sacred Croix subsequently went through a barren run that was closing in on two years before he finally sprang back to winning ways at his last start, in Class 3 company.
Arguably, a similar type of race would be the safest way to let the confidence grow again, but trainer Mark Walker raised the bar even higher in this Saturday’s S$100,000 Golden Ox Stakes, a Class 1 race over 1400m.
The six-year-old was venturing into elite territory that included the likes of Muraahib (Reset), Fame Star (Twirling Candy) or former Singapore Horse of the Year, I’m Incredible (Lope De Vega).
But with only 47.5kgs and Singapore’s current hottest property, Hakim Kamaruddin, on his back, it proved to be a well-calculated gamble for the horse Walker also races under the Remarkable Stable banner, though the Kiwi mentor later revealed it was more by default – there was no other race.
Well backed into S$12, Sacred Croix came with a well-timed run to make it back-to-back wins. Upon straightening, tearaway leader Fame Star looked to have taken an unassailable lead, but the closers were not far from getting him on a level pegging as the EW Barker Trophy winner started to get the staggers at the 200m mark.
Leading the charge was Muraahib, while Sacred Croix then looked a bit of a forlorn hope, with still about five lengths to make up on Fame Star.
Hakim initially went for the rails run, but with Muraahib lugging in and narrowing down the gap, the quick-thinking lad judiciously made the switch to the outside. Once they saw daylight, his mount opened up with a pulsating turn of foot to go and score by one and a quarter lengths from Muraahib who just nutted Fame Star out into third place by a short head.
Sacred Croix clocked the smart time of 1min 21.53secs for the 1400m on the Short Course to register his sixth win from 23 starts for prizemoney that is just a little under S$360,000.
“The horse has struck a lot of wet tracks. He also went too quickly through the grades and lost his way,” said Walker to explain the period the form was on the wane.
“He had a nice spell and has come back in good shape. He is stronger and carries a bit of condition again.
“Unfortunately, there aren’t quite enough races around for him, there are limited opportunities.”
The win capped a good day at the office for Walker, given he also prepares earlier winners on the card Entertainer (Zoustar) and Mustengo (Minstrel Court), with the treble taking his 2021 score to nine winners. However, reigning champion trainer Michael Clements still holds a two-win margin on Walker thanks to a double with Heartening Flyer (Excelebration) and $140 longshot Palateas (Iffraaj) in the last race, the S$50,000 Lucky Ox Stakes, a Class 4 Division 2 race over 1100m.
Sun Trek shows plenty of promise on debut
Australian import Sun Trek (Lonhro) franked his Melbourne form as well as his handy barrier trial form at Kranji with a slashing debut win on Saturday.
On his two thirds at Moonee Valley when known as North Trek for the leading Hayes & Dabernig training partnership, the four-year-old was clearly a cut above the lot he was pitted against in the S$20,000 Maiden race over 1200m on the Polytrack.
Still, trainer Desmond Koh and owner Sun Bloodstock could not afford any room for complacency, especially when it comes to that first start in a foreign land.
But to their great relief and delight, the Melbourne metropolitan form stacked up from start to finish. Taking a sit on the outside of City Knight (Golden Archer), Sun Trek was off and gone in a jiffy the moment he was given his head upon cornering.
The late-closing Kakadu (Eurozone) was the one who won the battle for the minors just under five lengths astern with Rocket Ryane (Deep Field) third another two lengths away.
Backed down to S$11 favouritism, Sun Trek reeled the Polytrack 1200m off in 1min 11.58secs.
“This horse came with a pretty good record. The only question mark was the wide barrier (nine),” said Koh.
“He did show some speed in his work, but nothing too blistering. So I wasn’t sure how he would go, plus there was a bit of a ding-dong fight to come across.
“But once he settled outside the leader, he travelled relaxed and was too good in the end.
“I would say he’s a middle-distance type of horse. He’ll definitely get over more ground.
“It’s great to train another winner for Mr Cheng (Ting Kong). He’s been a great supporter of mine over the years.”
Heartening Flyer even more impressive after break
The 1200m was feared as too sharp for Heartening Flyer (Excelebration) but the promising galloper still scored a scintillating win at his racing comeback on Saturday.
Not seen since his hard-fought win in Class 4 company in a 1400m race back in September, the Tivic Stable-owned four-year-old was a lot more dominant even though he was first-up and tackling stronger opposition in the S$70,000 Fortune Ox Stakes, a Class 3 event over 1200m.
The economical rails-hugging run courtesy of barrier No 1 was a massive help, but he somehow looked to be making heavy weather of it at the 300m when jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin peeled him off for his run.
But once he hit top gear, he suddenly sprouted wings to go and put the race away as he pleased.
Siam Warrior (Exceed And Excel) and Makkem Lad (Kuroshio) were fighting out the finish but were swamped at the 200m with Wecando (Per Incanto) coming from well back to snatch second place two lengths away.
Heartening Flyer’s stablemate Spirit Of Big Bang (Intikhab), who was coming back after an even longer time on the sidelines (13 months) for a leg fracture, stuck on nicely for third another neck away, just blousing out the duelling pair of Siam Warrior and Makkem Lad.
Sent out the short-priced favourite at S$9, Heartening Flyer ran the 1200m on the Short Course in 1min 9.12secs.
Champion trainer Michael Clements’ assistant-trainer Michael White said he only dreaded the distance, but the horse’s natural ability saw him through.
“He was going up in class after a break, and if he was to be beaten one day, today was the day,” said White.
“But he’s come back a better horse. He still had a look around when he hit the front, but he can switch off better and is going the right way.
“The Derby is his target – if that race takes place at some stage this year.”
The Singapore Derby run over 1800m is the third and final Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.
Beuzelin sent an ominous warning when he said Heartening Flyer was only at 50% of his peak ability.
“He’s still a bit fresh and it took him a while to get into his strides,” said the French jockey.
“It’s a good thing he was drawn one and wasn’t too far behind as we thought 1200m would be too short for him. It’s only after the winning post that he put in the big strides.
“He’ll get fitter from the run. He was only 50% of his best today.”
With that fourth win from only five starts, Heartening Flyer has amassed more than S$145,000 in stakes money for the Tivic Stable.
Ricvelo brings beginner’s luck to new owner
Just a few weeks after durian trader Richard Go realised his dream to own a racehorse through the takeover of Alexander Horatio and renaming him Ricvelo (Toronado), the new venture bore fruits instantly when his new pride and joy scored at his very first start in his colours on Saturday.
And as a double happiness, Go could not have picked a more auspicious occasion than the Chinese New Year to savour his good fortune as a brand new horse owner under his stable moniker Richstad Stable.
Ridden by Louis-Philippe Beuzelin, Ricvelo (S$21) was scrubbed up from his wide alley to find the front around the first bend before trading the lead with favourite Malibu Beach (Malibu Moon) down the backstraight.
Upon straightening, Malibu Beach was not pulling away like a top pick should, but on the other hand, Ricvelo had saved his best for last as he rallied again along the rails to stride away to a brilliant maiden win by one and a half lengths.
Probably worn out by his tough run in a one-off spot in the lead, Malibu Beach eventually lost second spot to Master Sommelier (Burgundy) to run third another three parts of a length away. The winning time was 1min 40.07secs for the Polytrack mile.