Japanese stayer puts Wind back in his sails
Japanese stayer Wind Trail (Screen Hero) bounced back to winning ways in yesterday’s Kranji Stakes C (1800m) as he posted his first success since May 2019.
Granted he was sparingly raced during last year’s Covid-19-affected season, but trainer Hideyuki Takaoka has kept the faith in the six-year-old despite the fact he had not been showing the same zip.
Patiently ridden by Marc Lerner, Wind Trail used his superior turn of foot when the gaps came up at the top of the straight, pinging away before being eased down close to the line.
Dancing Rain (Alamosa) took second place, a length and a quarter away, just edging out On Line (O’Reilly) by a neck.
“Marc rode Wind Trail very well. He knows the horse well,” said the winning trainer.
“You saw how he started to look around and stop when he hit the front. He even started to hang out.
“Another 50 metres, he would have lost the race. He’s a horse who cannot go to the front too soon, but at the same time, if you leave it too late, he may not have the same burst.”
Takaoka was at the double after combining earlier with Lerner to saddle Bebop (Rock ‘N’ Pop) to a third win in the Class 5 race over 1700 metres.
Golden Flame puts Starlight out
Donna Logan was a picture of joy and sheer relief after the unfancied Golden Flame (Mossman) came up trumps to give the Kiwi horsewoman just her second winner of 2021 as he cruised to the front under John Powell to down even-money favourite Starlight (Headwater) in the first division of the Class 4 over 1400 metres.
“It was about time. It’s been a long dry patch for us,” said Logan.
“This horse just likes the 1400 metres and the rain wasn’t going to worry him at all. JP rode him a treat as well.
“I thought he was a bit handier than I would have liked but I guess JP knew what he had underneath him. What a rock star, JP!
“Starlight was the horse to beat, but as a three-year-old against older horses, I thought that would make him vulnerable today.”
Logan went on to complete a double on the card when Makkem Lad (Kuroshio) took out the penultimate Class 3 race over 1200 metres under apprentice Yusoff Fadzli
A delighted Logan said: “This horse has got such a big heart. He tries so hard all the time, and he loves the 1200 metres on turf.
“Yusoff saved him up, saved him up, he just rode him to instructions. It was a perfect ride from him, he did me so proud today.”
Billy Elliot dances to victory
Debutant Billy Elliot (Per Incanto) scored an impressive win in the open maiden over 1400 metres but still left in-form trainer Stephen Gray with a bittersweet feeling at the winner’s circle.
The Kiwi handler revealed that Billy Elliot was the last horse his long-time supporter Paul Hickman of St George Stable had sent to Singapore.
“Sadly, that is the last horse Paul has sent up here,” he said.
“He bought a filly with me but he’s leaving her in Australia. Paul buys horses for the good races and with the limited options in Singapore now, he’s not very impressed.
“He’ll see how things go at the Turf Club, but for now he’s not buying horses anymore for Singapore.”
Gray can only hope Billy Elliot is the one last shot that can finally crack it for an elusive Group success for Singapore-based English businessman Hickman.
“Garry (Carvell, agent) bought this one as a yearling for Paul. He won his trial and he said he could be a Derby horse,” said Gray.
“To be fair, Garry said to give him a bit of time. The fact he was stuck in New Zealand during Covid-19 helped him.
“He’s a very nice horse by a very good stallion (Per Incanto) and Vlad (Duric) likes him a lot.”
The win brought up a double for Duric, who after a 2021 season that had got underway in fits and starts due to some health issues, seems to have now hit top gear. On seven wins, the four-time Singapore champion jockey has now edged his way into sixth spot, only four winners off joint-leaders Lerner and Beuzelin.