Derby beckons after big-hearted victory from Churchill
Churchill (Smart Missile) gave his Singapore Derby (Listed, 1800m) aspirations no harm with a display of outstanding resilience in yesterday’s $70,000 Class 3 Division 1 race over 1200 metres.
That second Kranji win was highly reminiscent of his maiden win in a Class 4 event over 1400 metres second-up on February 28. That night, from a wide alley as well, he had to press on for most of the back straight under jockey Vlad Duric before finding the lead and going on to score.
If that win was all guts and glory, multiply that factor by at least five for yesterday’s win. With replacement jockey Ryan Munger up, the strapping galloper was caught five to six deep for almost two thirds of the speed dash.
With well-fancied rivals like Surge (Exceed And Excel), Hugo (Smart Missile) and Filibuster (Ilovethiscity) on his inside, most thought Churchill would show the white flag upon straightening, but that was underestimating Ricardo Le Grange’s bulldog.
It soon became evident that Churchill had actually only been humming along despite his scenic route on the outskirts. Once Munger popped the question, the game galloper went through his gears, actually skipping clear by two lengths when he was entitled to get the staggers.
Those who had run along on his inside were the ones who were running on fumes instead, while the swoopers could not pull much ground off him either. In the end it was the fast-finishing Beau Geste (Street Cry) who won the fight for the minors one and a half-length away, a head clear of Chocante (Fastnet Rock).
The run of the race has to be Absolvido (Rip Van Winkle) who after tailing off badly, stormed home to just miss fourth place by a nose to Ironside (Jimmy Choux). The winning time was 1min 11.97secs for the 1200 metres on the Polytrack.
With that second success, Churchill, a former Sydney one-time winner when known as Front Sight and prepared by Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, has bulged his win account past the $75,000 mark for The Racing Club headed by iRace boss Steve Levar.
After such an odds-defying run, connections would have every reason to harbour loftier dreams for the Smart Missile four-year-old, namely the Singapore Derby on September 6. It was a feature race he had been aimed at anyway before Covid-19, and now that it is open to five-year-olds and will be staged on September 6, he is still eligible.
“It was a big, big win. He’s a big horse who was drawn out and Ryan used his stride to go forward,” said Le Grange who was capping a great day with a treble after Sweet Angeline (Rubick) and Gold Prize (Orpen) scored earlier.
“Unfortunately, the horses kicked up on his inside and Ryan didn’t want to break his momentum. That horse has both class and courage.
“I’ll have a chat with Steve but the Derby would definitely be a race to look at for him.”
Le Grange dedicated that hat-trick of wins to his father Jack who is currently recovering from surgery.
“I’d like to spare a special thought to my Dad, who had surgery in the US yesterday. This one is for you Dad, and here’s to wishing you a speedy recovery.”
Sweet Angeline picks up where she left off
Promising filly Sweet Angeline’s (Rubick) fighting spirit again came to the fore as she posted a second win.
At her Kranji debut on April 3, in what was to become the last race of the pre-Circuit Breaker three-month suspension, the three-year-old beat all comers by doing it the hard way, pressing on from a wide course before digging down deep in the home straight for a tenacious win.
She again had no luck at the barriers when resuming in yesterday’s $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200 metres, having drawn 10 from 11, not to mention she had to contend with the steadier of 58 kilograms this time.
But, with champion jockey Vlad Duric staying on her back, she used her natural speed to again take up a forward position, albeit unable to cross with main rival Knight Love (Shanghai Bobby) kicking up on the rails from a better gate.
Legend Rocks (Mahisara) in the end rolled forward to show the way for the two main protagonists, but Duric was again on the front foot when he was the first to heel his mount along at the top of the straight.
Sweet Angeline immediately shot to the front. The favourite Knight Love was caught a little on the backfoot on the inside running rails but clawing his way back, while Delaware (Shooting To Win) was making inroads on the outside with a stinging challenge, shaping up as the one who could upstage the two top picks.
But absorbing the pressure from either side with aplomb, Sweet Angeline ($13) fought back tooth and nail to go and hold a one-length margin on Knight Love. Michael Clements’ US-bred debut winner lost no admirers with his gallant effort, just nosing Delaware out for second place. The winning time was just a tick under 1min 12secs.
Sweet Angeline, who raced as Chia for a record of one win in six starts in New South Wales, has now established a two-from-two record in Singapore for around $55,000 in stakes earnings for the TRC Stable.
“It was a tough courageous win from Sweet Angeline. It’s great training horses like her,” said Le Grange.
“It’s so good to see her win the way she did. The biggest thing about her is she wants to win.
“She’s now won two tough races. They never left her alone, she gave them so much weight, but she kicked again.”
Le Grange went on to saddle a second winner when Gold Prize made all in the $20,000 maiden race over 1200 metres.
The Argentinian-bred four-year-old was opening his account at his fifth start after overcoming some adversity early in his career at Kranji.
“It’s great this horse won. A massive thanks to the Gold & Chelsea Stable, the Yong’s,” said Le Grange.
“He had a tendon injury after the first start and the owners have been very patient.
“Today the plan was to ride him positive and Ryan ended up in front and it worked out well in the end.”
Flying start for Heartening Flyer
Heartening Flyer (Excelebration) lived up to his name when he got off to a flier with trainer Michael Clements predicting bigger and better things for the colt post-race.
After two barrier trial wins put the writing on the wall, the three-year-old certainly franked that impression from the way he was coasting in a handy spot in the $75,000 restricted maiden Division 1 race over 1200 metres.
Once he swept past the weakening leader Lady Fast (Ferlax), he looked a moral, but Brutus (Rubick) would not give him peace inside the concluding stages.
The $8 hotpot looked on the ropes as his lead was whittled down, but under Louis-Philippe Beuzelin’s deft handling, he raised another gear to hold Brutus at bay by a neck. The Shadow (Dissident) took third place another four and a half lengths away.
Heartening Flyer ran the 1200 metres on Polytrack in 1min 11.84secs and was bringing up around $40,000 in prize-money for the Tivic Stable, better known for their top sprinter Bold Thruster (Turffontein) who also races with Clements.
Pleased with what he saw, Clements has already locked away Heartening Flyer’s next outing.
“It was nice game win, 1200 metres first-up is never easy for a young horse,” said the Zimbabwean-born conditioner.
“I was really pleased with how he travelled, and up the straight, he kicked nicely. He was probably lacking in experience when he looked a bit lost once he hit the front, but when the other horse came up, he quickened up again. I have found a novice race over 1200 metres on turf for him on August 16.
“He’s a long-striding horse and in my opinion, such horses are more comfortable on grass.”
Interestingly, that win saw Beuzelin leapfrog over Ruan Maia to take second place in the Singapore jockeys’ premiership. The pair were tied on 17 winners before the race.
Maia had a chance to hold his spot when Brutus came with a rush at the 150 metres, but despite his efforts, the Brazilian could not overhaul his French counterpart.