Kranji Mile in the mix after Ocean Crossing stuns in Polytrack dash
Michael Clements pulled off the training feat of the day with Ocean Crossing (All Too Hard) returning from a 169-day break to blow his rivals out of the water in the $70,000 Class 3 (1100m) yesterday.
With a profile that reads a higher propensity towards the mile and thereabouts, all on turf, not many took notice of the five-year-old in a Polytrack line-up that had garnered speed merchants like Sun Ops (I Am Invincible), Siam Warrior (Exceed And Excel) or My Dreamliner (Dream Ahead).
More so when at his last start, he ran out of the placings in the Singapore Gold Cup (Listed, 2000m) back in November when he was still prepared by Lee Freedman (returned to Australia in March).
But stayers can have a tendency to go well fresh in sprints, and that was the case again yesterday.
Feeding off the hot tempo set by the pacemakers, Ocean Crossing ($154) was able to tap into his greater stamina to land the 1100-metre contest.
Favourite Sun Ops, who was bidding to stretch his unbeaten record to a three-in-a-row, was still in front at the furlong pole, but after the sizzling sectionals he carved out under the relentless pressure from My Dreamliner for most of the speed dash, he looked vulnerable.
Cheval Rapide (Exceed And Excel) was the first to roll him with a sneaky run along the rails.
But jockey Shafrizal Saleh had in the meantime weaved Ocean Crossing through the pack before powering home with a withering burst to deny Cheval Rapide by a neck, while Sun Ops folded to run third another one and a half lengths away.
With Ocean Crossing 22nd in the list of entry in the $1 million Kranji Mile (Listed, 1600m) on May 22, this breathtaking win might give him a push that will make him a worthy wingman to Clements’ two top-raters Top Knight (Zoustar) and Big Hearted (Hallowed Crown).
“The Kranji Mile is something we will consider. His ratings were too low, but after this win, they may be pushed up, we’ll see, and we’ll see how he pulls up, too,” said Clements.
“Today he was first-up and fresh, though he didn’t show much in his trackwork. His last trial was good, though [won on April 29].
“It was also his first time on Polytrack, so it was a bit unexpected to see him win first-up, but we know he is a good horse who has run in a couple of Group races.
“We knew he would be outpaced early, but we did expect him to find the line as he did win some sprint races early.”
Shafrizal echoed the same open-mindedness going into this comeback race over a distance not made to suit, but was pleasantly surprised by the stunning turn of foot.
“He’s a horse that has been improving since he came to us, but I couldn’t be too confident as his form had been just okay, even if his last trial with Vlad Duric was very good,” said Clements’ former apprentice jockey.
“I discussed with Michael how to ride him today. Obviously, the 1100 metres is too short for him, and we agreed he was a horse who cannot go forward.
“But they went too fast and at the 600 metres, they were starting to come back to me. I still had plenty of horse under me and that’s when I knew I had a chance.”
Khoo booked ‘lucky’ rider TH Koh to first 2021 win
Local trainer Leslie Khoo is known for coming up with some offbeat ideas, and this time, it’s with a touch of sentimentalism that he booked jockey Koh Teck Huat on Unconquered (I Am Invincible) in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 (1200m) yesterday.
It was nothing that was too out of the box, but just a little anecdote he had kept at the back of his mind after the I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) eight-year-old’s last outing.
Unconquered was fourth across the line with first-time partner Koh up in a Class 4 race over 1200 metres on April 18, but was promoted to third after the Mark Walker-trained Exdream (Dream Ahead) was disqualified to last.
“TH was very lucky when they got third place after the Walker horse was disqualified. I thought maybe he has the luck with this horse, and that’s why I booked him again today,” said Khoo.
“But he actually rode the horse very well as well, and he’s again given him a very good ride today. I told him this horse has to go forward.
“The wide barrier (ten) put me off but as he is a frontrunner, there is no other choice. There weren’t many speed horses, so I told TH he must try and come across and lead.
“He’s a decent horse in Class 4. They were coming at him, but he hung in till the end.”
Koh, whose last winner for Khoo was in 2018, was delighted to get the monkey off his back.
“I’m very happy I finally got a winner. It’s so hard to get a winner these days,” he said.
“This horse has been working well since his last start. He’s improved a lot.
“From the wide draw, I had no other choice but to go forward or we would get caught wide. There weren’t many speed horses in the race and I was confident I could come across.”
Turning for home, Unconquered ($32) still held sway by a comfortable margin, but Koh soon had the looming shadow of a familiar horse, The Wild Bunch (Swiss Ace), a horse he had always ridden prior to yesterday, cast onto the Polytrack.
Strong N Best (Rock ‘N’ Pop) was also finishing strongly on the inside, but Unconquered more than matched him. Strong N Best fell short by a neck with The Wild Bunch boxing on for third place another half-length away.
Argentinian connection to Meagher’s perfect Mother’s Day present
A clever tactical change mapped out on Saturno Spring’s (Greenspring) sole Argentinian victory proved to be the winning move yesterday – and the perfect Mother’s Day present
Dropped in a rearward spot at his six previous Kranji starts, the Argentinian-bred four-year-old was allowed a lot more rein out of the barriers when stepped up for the first time to his winning distance of 1600 metres in a $50,000 Class 4 race.
Jockey Danny Beasley and trainer Daniel Meagher plotted the switch to a more positive ride after they saw his all-the-way win in a mile race back home.
“With the step-up in trip to the mile, as he had won his only race over the mile in Argentina by leading, we thought he would naturally be more forward today,” said Beasley.
“He landed in a forward spot by himself, he travelled very well and was switched off. In the straight, he quickened very nicely.
“I think he will get up to 2000 metres. That’s when we will see the best of him.”
Beasley certainly went into the race with a battle plan that looked to have been well rehearsed with Meagher.
The in-form Australian jockey made good use of the $16 favourite’s inside alley to hold his spot on the fence but handed up the lead when Champagne Finale (All Too Hard) came whipping around from the first bend.
Mindful to not get hemmed in for too long, Beasley decided to pop off the rails at the 600 metres and eye-ball Champagne Finale.
After a brief tussle, Saturno Spring quickened well to notch up his first Singapore victory, three lengths clear of the fast-finishing Gold Reward (Warrior’s Reward), who relegated the weakening Champagne Finale into third place another three and a half lengths away.
Meagher had an extra kick out of Saturno Spring’s maiden Kranji win given it turned out to be a fitting Mother’s Day present for his mother Ann.
“Mum and Dad have a share of the horse with Mr Lim (Siah Mong),” said Meagher.
“He had three runs in Argentina for one win at his first start, but he has taken a long time to settle in.
“We gelded him because he was so naughty. He has a lot of upsides, and could go on to become a genuine Class 3 horse.
“Danny gave him a beautiful confident ride.”
Everest straight to the top on debut
Newcomer Everest (Ghostzapper) climbed straight to the top at his first Kranji contest in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200 metres yesterday.
Long held in the firing line as the meat in the sandwich by jockey Danny Beasley, the US-bred three-year-old colt eventually saw his hard graft pay off when he pulled away from the two “buns” King Arthur (I Am Invincible) and Con Speranza (Tavistock) inside the last furlong.
Everest went on to cross the line first with one length to spare from King Arthur while Con Esperanza had to settle for third another neck away.
While Everest was snubbed by punters judging by his generous odds of $107, trainer Ricardo Le Grange and Beasley went in with a much greater level of confidence with the colt now raced solely by Filipino owner Paolo Mendoza following the recent demise of his father Rodolfo.
“Paolo puts a lot of money in the game. Without such owners, we basically have nothing,” said Le Grange.
“It’s always a pleasure to train a nice winner for them, and to win on debut is an even bigger thrill.
“This horse has never been on grass but from what he’s shown at home and in his trials, he definitely showed us ability, and I think he’ll be even better the further he goes.
“A big thank you must also go to (assistant-trainer) Jacci (de Tert) who never gets the accolades she deserves. She is the backbone behind the stable.”
Beasley described Everest as a “very nice horse” and potentially one of the best bred three-year-old imports this season.
“Ricardo told me he had a very nice two-year-old for me before he even got here. He’s now three as he’s a US-bred, and probably from one of the best breedings we’ve seen coming here this year,” said the Australian jockey.
“He’s by Ghostzapper and out of a good mare, too, and I believe he came from Winstar/China Horse Club as well.
“He’s a colt and is still a bit of a boy, but Ricardo has done an amazing job with him. I’ve ridden him in his trials and gallops right through his preparation from Day 1, and he’s been doing everything right.
“When the others didn’t come across at the start, I found myself more forward than I had planned. I was chuckling to myself as I knew those behind me wouldn’t beat me.”
Beasley rode a treble on the day, having also partnered $34 shot Lim’s Rhythm (Rock ‘N’ Pop) to victory in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 2 (1700m).