Kharisma shows benefit of senior rider
After three runs with apprentice jockeys, trainer Stephen Gray felt his useful sprinter Kharisma (Mossman) needed a senior jockey on Sunday, and it was indeed Marc Lerner’s trademark vigorous handling that lifted him over the line in the $100,000 Better Life 2012 Stakes Class 1 race over 1200 metres.
Held together in fifth place, the Mossman (Success Express) five-year-old had leader Fame Star (Twirling Candy) in his sights when he cornered but was a little buffeted as the swoopers jostled for their launch.
Favourite Makkem Lad (Kuroshio) ducked to the inside run while Kharisma found clear running towards the middle part, paving the way towards an epic duel between the pair.
Tenacious as always, Makkem Lad looked to have the edge, but just failed to keep his head in front right at the death, with Kharisma ($22) lunging late to get in by a short head. The winning time was 1min 9.74secs for the 1200 metres on the Short Course.
A great piece of riding and horsemanship from Lerner, but to be fair, Iskandar Rosman did win one race (Class 1, 1200m August 1) on Kharisma, even showing great tactical nous to upstage champion jockey Vlad Duric on Grand Koonta (Dark Angel), but Gray felt it was time to rope in some muscle this time around.
“It was a solid strong win, and he was well ridden by Marc,” said Gray.
“He’s just a trying and gutsy horse. He had apprentices on at his last three starts, and they did nothing wrong, but I just thought he needed to have a stronger jockey this time as he was getting up in grade.
“He’s a good little horse, he’s already won six races this year. He’s going to the Polytrack race and will then go for a nice break.”
Gray was referring to November 27’s Merlion Trophy (Gr 3, 1200m), the last feature race and only event run on Polytrack of this year’s Singapore racing calendar.
Whether he notches a much deserved first Group race on his CV or not, Kharisma has already figured among the most consistent gallopers this year, bringing up six wins this year alone, to take his overall record to nine wins and six placings from 21 starts for prizemoney around the $460,000 for Indonesian owner Untung Joesoef of Dago Stable.
Eagle Eye swoops for victory
Argentinian-bred galloper Eagle Eye (Pure Prize) finally broke through for his first win for trainer Donna Logan on Sunday.
The Pure Prize (Storm Cat) seven-year-old was once a Group performer for trainers Ricardo Le Grange and Michael Clements, albeit without flattering, knocking in one win apiece in a lesser grade for his former mentors.
The Thai-owned chestnut has, however, struck a long run of outs in the two years he has been trained by Logan – until his 22nd start (and 38th overall) for the Kiwi handler, which came in Sunday’s $50,000 Gilt Complex 2017 Stakes Class 4 Division 2 race over 1400 metres.
“He loves the track and distance, and everything went as planned. I was a bit concerned with the barrier (11) but Hakim (Kamaruddin) got him across nicely and rode him beautifully,” said Logan.
“The key to this horse is he likes open air and not to be in amongst them. Hakim got him around nicely, and into a challenging position at the top of the straight.
“Horses just seem to run for Hakim.”
Two pairs back in the running, Eagle Eye ($59) was indeed responding well to the leading apprentice jockey with an improving run when peeled out three wide from the 600 metres, but seemed to lose his pitch when he lugged out to the Grandstand upon straightening.
Hakim quickly took corrective action with Eagle Eye falling in line soon enough. Six horses were slogging away for a busy finish down the straight, but Eagle Eye kept whacking away on the outside to get up for a half-length win.
Less than a length split the other six in their struggle for a slice of the minors. Wild Bee (Niagara) was the one who gained the runner-up spot by a nose from race-leader The Wild Bunch (Swiss Ace) with Asgard Massif (Fastnet Rock) fourth another neck away.
Wecando (Per Incanto) was running on stoutly, but peaked on his run to claim fifth place another half-length away, a short head from Takhi (Bahamian Squall) and another head from Global Kid (Global Hunter) in seventh place. The winning time was 1min 23.51secs for the 1400 metres on the Short Course.
Eagle Eye’s win was also in perfect timing as it probably got him off the Malaysian-bound float.
“The owner has had many wins with Good Luck Charm with us, but were close to sending Eagle Eye up to Malaysia,” Logan revealed.
“Thankfully, they decided to keep supporting me by leaving the horse here and he’s won a nice race today.”
With that third win, Eagle Eye’s earnings have tipped past the $200,000 mark for the Kajorn Petch Racing No 9 Stable, who enjoyed plenty of success with five-time winner Good Luck Charm (Charm Spirit) with Logan, and has also recently sent a third horse to Logan in the previously Filipino-owned and Ricardo Le Grange-trained Pindus (Exceed And Excel).
Resuming from a one-day suspension for careless riding, Hakim was taking the lead on Danny Beasley back to seven winners after the latter scored earlier aboard Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec). Hakim now sits on top on 56 winners, and with two meetings left, is odds-on to claim both the apprentice jockey and senior jockey’s titles.
Lim’s Kosciuszko bolts in
It’s been 175 days since Lim’s Kosciuszko brought up his three-from-three, but the long interruption has not in any way slowed down the winning rampage as evidenced by his smashing comeback in the $50,000 Mr Clint 2019 Stakes Class 4 race over 1200 metres on Sunday.
The exciting prospect named after Australia’s highest point was stunningly pulled out of last June’s Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (Gr 3, 1200m) a few days before his first real big test, albeit against his own age group.
No physical issues were detected, but trainer Daniel Meagher just had a gut feel the son of Kermadec (Teofilo) was at that tipping point he could turn sour.
With Mr Lim Siah Mong’s blessing, a break was called, one which has probably surprised a few with its lengthiness – six months, but Meagher was fully vindicated for his decision on Sunday.
Three barrier trials and a well-planned long-haul prep to bring him back to mint condition for his comeback had punters hammering him in at unbackable odds – and he sure raced like a $6 pop.
Taken straight to the top of the queue by regular partner Danny Beasley from his handy barrier, Lim’s Kosciuszko looked like he never came out of second gear as he kept striding to the line unopposed – to deliver the message we actually all knew before it was scripted: He belongs to another class.
As the only impudent chaser from the remaining 13, From The Navy (Hinchinbrook) has to be lauded for his runner-up endeavours three-and-a-half length astern.
Heavenly Dancer (Echoes Of Heaven) was another gap of two and a half lengths away in third place. The winning time was 1min 9.76secs for the 1200 metres on the Short Course.
Meagher was of course delighted with the manner of the win, especially as Lim’s Kosciuszko was shouldering the steadier of 59 kilograms first-up. Plus, there is always that nagging doubt that comes with a nice horse finding his way back to the track after so long.
“He won good, he was the best horse in the race and he showed that,” said the Australian handler who has an even bigger fish to fry later when he saddles Lim’s Lightning (Lope De Vega) in the Singapore Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2000m).
“It was a very good effort with 59 kilograms on his back, he showed a very good turn of foot. When a horse spreads a field out like he does, it’s usually a good sign.
“But he’s still not there yet. He’s a funny horse and there’s still some improvement left in him.
“He’s a plain worker and a plain trialler, and leaves it for raceday. He’s a serious horse on raceday, he’s just a nice horse going forward.”
Meagher has no doubt the bold decision to back him off was the right one.
“There is a reason why the Lim’s Stable has been champion owner for many years. They understand racing and trust their trainer,” he said.
“There was no second-guessing me when I decided to stop the horse and give him a break as I felt it would hurt him mentally then.
“They’re the reason why you have that confidence to do these things, and to have Danny Beasley as part of the team also gives you great confidence.
“It’s important to have everybody on the same page.”
The next pow-wow on Lim’s Kosciuszko’s future path at Kranji is not quite in the pipeline yet, though.
“We’ll get him ready for the New Year, we haven’t really set any targets at this stage,” said Meagher.
In four starts, Lim’s Kosciuszko remains unbeaten for prize-money having hit around the $130,000 mark for the Lim’s Stable.