Hong Kong cast-off Grand Fighter impresses with stylish debut win
Covid-19 has brought racing on its knees, but every now and then you hear of positive fallouts for some uplift, and Grand Fighter (Per Incanto) is one of them.
The son of Per Incanto (Street Cry) was originally bought for Hong Kong interests last year, but when the pandemic struck the deal fell through.
The four-year-old eventually ended up with Singaporean handler Leslie Khoo. Hong Kong’s loss has turned out to be Singapore’s gain with Grand Fighter making it an instant payday at his very first race in the $20,000 open maiden over 1200 metres at Kranji yesterday.
While his barrier trials had not been bad at all (four placings from as many trials), punters had somehow shied away from him given his generous odds of $114, but they are likely to heed his presence better from now on.
Hot on the heels of Who Loves Bae (Deep Field) from the off, Grand Fighter bided his time before sweeping past Desmond Koh’s well-tried debutant upon straightening to charge towards a comfortable two-length win.
Who Loves Bae held on stoutly for second place, three-quarters of a length clear of the odds-on favourite Malibu Beach (Malibu Moon). The winning time was 1:12.53 for the 1200 metres on the Polytrack.
“He’s a good horse that was bought for Hong Kong, but when Covid-19 came, he couldn’t go there. So we raced him here instead,” said Khoo.
“I was not very confident as I thought Who Loves Bae Malibu Beach would be hard to beat.
“Still, I told the jockey to jump well and sit handy. If the others want to go forward, just let them go and do your best.
“In the straight he got to the front, but when the other horse came again, he wanted to go again.
“I think he’ll keep improving from today’s run.”
Khoo’s yard was on song yesterday after they completed a double with Super Ray (Nadeem) four races later in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1200 metres.
The five-year-old’s success also turned out to be a lucky pick-up ride for A’Isisuhairi Kasim after champion jockey Vlad Duric was stood down by order of the doctors a couple of races earlier.
A’Isisuhairi was also recording a brace after he saluted earlier aboard Kinabalu Warrior (Warrior’s Reward).
Whiz Fizz breaks drought for Peters’ Argentinian youngsters
English trainer James Peters had learned to curb his enthusiasm from the glowing trackwork shown by his Argentinian babies thus far, but Whiz Fizz (Orpen) finally bucked that trend, much to his great delight yesterday.
Forward enough in his workouts and barrier trials (won the last one on January 28), the grey three-year-old franked that form at his debut run in the $75,000 restricted maiden (1100m), unlike his other Hardwicke Racing Club stablemates like Tesoro Pirata (Orpen) and Pini Pons (Suggestive Boy), both of whom have been unable to live up to early promise shown in trackwork.
Bustled up early from his wide alley to go and sit outside leader Bad Boy Black (Gingerbread Man), Whiz Fizz ($76) was quick to put in the big bounds the moment jockey Juan Paul van der Merwe slipped some rein at the top of the straight.
The issue was put beyond doubt as he skipped clear to a two-length win from the fast-closing Con Speranza (Tavistock), another newcomer, with Fighting Hero (Tavistock) another one length away in third. The winning time was 1:05.35 for the 1100 metres on the Polytrack.
“To be honest, I’ve been left scratching my head with those Argentinian horses,” said Peters.
“They all work well, but that form is not translated on raceday. That’s why I was apprehensive about this one as well as he’s also shown us ability on the tracks.
“He had some niggly issues like shin soreness and he was backed off a couple of times, but he’s obviously come good really well.
“Whatever he did today, he will improve on fitness-wise. He’s still new and he’s a very nice prospect for the stable.
“A big thank you to Justin Vermaak who picked this horse and manages this racing group.”
Van der Merwe is a close friend of the fellow South African and racing manager, but was pleased he had ridden a first winner for him.
“I was riding in Mauritius when Justin started to race horses back home. I know him more as a friend, this is my first winner for him,” said the South African jockey.
“The horse had a wide draw, he jumped okay and I had to wake him up a little but he was able to get a nice spot outside the leader.
“He travelled well. I thought he went to the front too early, he had his ears pricked and was looking around, but the ability is there.”
Whiz Fizz is among a group of six Argentinian horses who made the headlines for the wrong reasons last year when they were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. The plane they boarded in Rio de Janeiro to fly to Singapore was grounded in a drug bust, which delayed their flight.
Mandrake (Not For Sale), the only tried horse in the lot, has already won one race, but Whiz Fizz is the first of the unraced batch to salute.