Inferno smoulders in Singapore Guineas
The “rising star’ tag had been bandied around for a while, but after Inferno (4 g Holy Roman Emperor – Spina Rosa by Redoute’s Choice) lit up yesterday’s Singapore Guineas (Listed, 1600m) with a victory as emphatic as you would ever witness at Kranji, not many will now disagree that a new star is born.
Even if Mr Malek (Swiss Ace) – smart but not as charismatic – had not been sensationally scratched on Tuesday, the third and last leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge – a Singapore Group 1 – was always going to be billed as a one-horse race, especially after Inferno jogged to an easy win in the first (technically second) leg, the Singapore Classic (Listed, 1400m) a month ago.
The early muddling-run pace could have set a costly trap, but Inferno sidestepped it with the ease and hint of swagger that is the hallmark of very good horses.
After nestling into the box-seat from barrier one (not the best for a horse who is more dominant when he plots a path on the outside), the four-year-old was seen racing with his mouth open when race-leader Senor Don (Senor Candy) stacked up the speed.
Though not overly concerned, Vlad Duric had been prepared for such an eventuality.
The champion jockey immediately eased Inferno off the rails 400 metres into the race, a move which coincided with Meryl (Rock ‘n’ Pop) spearing over three wide to go and inject more speed into the race.
From that point onwards, Inferno was travelling a lot more within his own steam in and amongst runners, getting a lovely tow behind Strong N Powerful (Golden Archer) while Big Hearted (Hallowed Crown) was trapped three-deep.
As Duric manoeuvred his mount to the outside upon approaching the home turn, the complexion of the race could not have made for a more predictable finish.
While all his opponents were under the pump, with jockeys hard at work, arms and whips flailing wildly, Duric was as still as a Madame Tussaud’s wax figure, but the conveyance underneath still zoomed up to the front in auto-pilot mode.
A few shakes of the reins and only one smack of the whip, and Barree Stable’s new star effortlessly strode to one of the easiest wins seen at Kranji, not so much for the margin as Rocket Star (Star Witness), the winner for the first minor prize, finished one and a half lengths astern, but for the consummate ease of a win that looked more like a galloping exhibition.
Besides Rocket Star, take nothing away from his rivals who showed great heart to fight for prize-money, with Strong N Powerful in third another short head away, just nudging Big Hearted out of a podium finish by a head, but it’s just unfortunate that they happen to be racing in the same year as Brown’s new champion.
By claiming the two legs, Inferno is crowned the undisputed new Singapore Three-Year-Old Champion, even if he has already turned four given the modified conditions to the series in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and also takes home $50,000 as bonus.
Inferno, who was sent out at unbackable odds of $5.30 (for a $5 stake), returned a moderate time of 1:36.2 for the 1600 metres on the Short Course, largely due to the soft sectionals in the first 600 metres of the event.
Time is no time; Brown, just like the thousands of privileged viewers who watched from home, was simply blown away by the breathtaking spin from a horse who is slowly but surely taking a special place in his heart right next to Barree’s original ‘horse of a lifetime’, Debt Collector (Time Thief)
“He was very impressive. Vlad didn’t have to do too much on him,” said the Australian handler. “He did overrace a touch in the first 400 metres when they slowed up the pace, but Vlad did the right thing by popping him off the fence.
“We knew this could happen and we were always prepared for that. Once he went around the outside, I knew he couldn’t lose.”
While the three-year-old series is done and dusted, it doesn’t mean that Inferno is going for a well-deserved break. Besides, he has raced only three times this prep (for three wins).
“We can possibly look at the Raffles Cup, but it’s in two weeks’ time,” said Brown. “Vlad looked after him out there today, but we’ll still see how he pulls up. No decision will be made until we speak to (Barree Stable’s principal owner) Glenn (Whittenbury).”
Brown thought that his second runner Trading Post (Fighting Sun) who finished sixth more than three lengths off was not disgraced. The former Salton Sea had raced only twice prior to the Guineas, for one win.
“He might be at this kind of level in the future. He’s a nice horse and he ran very good,” he said.
With that seventh win (four at stakes level) from eight starts, with his only defeat a second to Siam Warrior (Exceed And Excel), Inferno has banked close to $700,000 for his lucky connections.
A relieved Duric walked out of the jockeys’ room a happy man knowing he had steered Inferno to his first Singaporean Group 1 success and maintained a perfect record of three from three. Duric took over after Michael Rodd, who partnered Inferno to his first four wins, returned to Australia during the “Circuit Breaker” in June.
“The horse (Inferno) was in such good condition. Going to the start, he was fresh and bouncy,” said Duric. “He gave me so much confidence that I wasn’t so worried about a bit of bad luck from barrier one.
“They did go very slow in the first 200 to 300 metres, but when Meryl went forward, that really made the race for me.He dropped his head and relaxed for me. He was in the right spot for me and he showed his class in the end.
“He’s such a beautiful horse and I’m just lucky to be on him. I’m so rapt for Cliff, Glenn and Chris Bock.
“All’s good, I’m just so relieved we got the job done. It was a great team effort.”
Grand Koonta set for Lion City Cup
Smart sprinter Grand Koonta (Dark Angel) showed absolutely no signs of ring-rustiness at his comeback race yesterday when he unleashed a powerful burst inside the last 200 metres to get up in a thriller.
James Peters’ Irish-bred five-year-old had not been sighted since January 26 when he ran a close second to Bold Thruster (Turffontein) in the Fortune Bowl (Listed, 1400m).
The barrier trials leading up to his return had been sound, but if a race remains the acid test, the grey certainly passed it with flying colours.
Following such an impressive performance where, after frustratingly running into dead ends for A’Isisuhairi Kasim at the 400 metres, he still flew home once he found space to go and post a short-head win from longshot Karisto (Written Tycoon), the Lion City Cup (Listed, 1200m) – a Singapore Group 1 on October 25 – looks right on target.
The Cliff Brown-trained Zac Kasa (Reset), the other grey, gave a glimpse of his old dash when he came with a threatening run at the 300 metres, but had to eventually settle for third place another half-length away.
EW Barker Trophy (Listed, 1400m) winner Fame Star (Twirling Candy) may have finished outside of the placings, but did restore some gloss to his credentials following his disappointing run at his comeback race on July 11.
Using a bit of petrol to come across from his wide barrier, the US-bred frontrunner was able to make play, did give some sight when he kicked clear at the top of the straight, but was swamped late, doing a good job to hold on for fifth place around a length off Grand Koonta.
The winning time was 1:09.15 for the Revolte 2009 Stakes over 1200 metres on the Short Course.
Peters admitted to having his heart in his mouth as he watched Grand Koonta getting hamstrung in traffic at a crucial stage of the race.
“There were a few anxious moments between the 400-metre and the 200-metre mark. He was pocketed in but Harry was able to get him out,” said the English trainer. “He’s got such a good turn of foot, he can really sprint. Once he saw daylight, he really flew home.”
Boasting a cracking record of five wins and four seconds in nine starts, Grand Koonta has now amassed around $330,000 in prize-money for the China Horse Club.
Peters confirmed that the Lion City Cup has been locked in for Grand Koonta as well as the other China Horse Club stalwart Skywalk (Battle Paint), who ran seventh, but only around two lengths behind his stablemate.
More of a Polytrack specialist, the Battle Paint seven-year-old box-seated behind Fame Star for Vlad Duric, and did throw down the gauntlet in the straight, only to fade late.
“The Lion City Cup will be Grand Koonta’s next race. He was up 16 kilograms and today’s race has tightened him up,” said Peters. “He will take improvement from the race as well. A big thank you to the China Horse Club, who have been very patient as we have not had many opportunities.
“I will also run Skywalk in the Lion City Cup. I was very happy with his run today, he tried his guts out, and was beaten only around two and a half lengths.”
Peters was busy in the very next race as he was saddling his bonny mare Meryl in the highlight of the day, the Singapore Guineas (Listed, 1600m), but unfortunately, the race didn’t pan out as he wanted.
“It didn’t work out for her. She couldn’t slot in, and Jimmy (Wong Chin Chuen) didn’t want to be caught three wide, and decided to push on,” he said. “A midrace move is not ideal in such a race. She was outclassed in the end. We will go back to handicap races with her.”