Mr Malek lands his first Group win in Stewards’ Cup
Ultra-smart sprinter-miler Mr Malek (Swiss Ace) was finally stripped of the tag of the best horse not to have won a Group race following his expected victory as the S$17 favourite in the S$150,000 Stewards’ Cup (Gr 2, 1600m) yesterday.
Identified as Group race material from day one, the athletic son of Swiss Ace (Secret Savings) lived up to the hype through a meteoric rise as a three-year-old reeling off a memorable five-in-a-row when trained by Lee Freedman.
When he got his first taste of champagne racing, he acquitted himself extremely well, even if it was close but no cigar – third in the Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (Gr 2, 1400m) and second in the Lion City Cup (Gr 1, 1200m), beaten on both occasions by the irrepressible Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor), spawning the slightly condescending thought he was doomed to the bridesmaid tag.
But with Inferno now pursuing his career in Australia, and following Mr Malek’s own change of scenery to trainer Steven Burridge when Freedman exited in March, it was his time to shine on the big stage.
After Burridge was fortunately able to nip a lameness issue in the bud, award-winning owner Oscar Racing Stable’s sole horse left (after a massive stable purge) picked his way through two lead-up races with a solid first-up third followed by a slashing win in a Class 2 race over 1400m on June 5.
Mr Malek was then presented at his peak for his piece de resistance, the former second Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, which is this year just a standalone feature coupled with the other remaining Leg, the Singapore Derby (Gr 1, 1800m) on July 25.
After a smart jump from barrier three, Mr Malek was never in doubt once jockey A’Isisuhairi Kasim parked him in fourth spot as longshot The Wild Bunch (Swiss Ace) rolled to the lead in the small nine-horse field.
As A’Isisuhairi built his willing partner up with a few smacks on the back of the saddle, the engine was revved up to the hilt when they collared Kharisma (Mossman). A brief tussle ensued but under hands-and-heels riding, Mr Malek skipped clear for a winning effort that can be summed up as a painless watch.
Big Hearted (Hallowed Crown) made a late dash on the outside to grab second place one-and-one-quarter lengths away, with Kharisma sticking on gallantly for third place another neck away.
Clocking 1min 35.89secs for the 1600m on the Long Course, Mr Malek is now the handy moneyspinner of more than S$460,000 in stakes for the Oscar Racing Stable, thanks to his imposing record of eight wins and four placings from 13 starts.
While A’Isisuhairi was at his third Stewards’ Cup after those notched with Titanium in 2016 and Siam Blue Vanda last year, it was a training breakthrough for Burridge, who in 17 years at Kranji, had never saddled any four-year-old feature winner for that matter.
Not one given to overstated post-race speeches, the Australian horseman said all the credit should be deflected to the horse himself.
“He’s a good horse. We were expecting him to run well and he’s done a good job, I’m very happy,” said Burridge.
“The first two leaders came back, but he settled and relaxed beautifully. He just does what he’s good at.
“We’ll look at the Derby for sure, even if it won’t be easy. Big Hearted got home good today and he will be even better over 1800m.
“My horse will have to come through today’s run good of course, but he’s a good doer, so I’m not too worried. He gained three kilos today, he had a good trial last week and a good piece of work at his Tuesday gallop.
“I have to thank the owner for giving me such a nice horse, I really appreciate it as I’ve never trained for CK (Chian Kin) Phua before.
“I would also like to thank the stables, and everyone associated with his success. It’s a team effort and Harry also rode him very well.”
A’Isisuhairi was unequivocal in his assessment of the perceived stamina doubt in the Holy Grail.
“I just spoke to Steven and I told him 1800m will be no issue,” he said.
“He is so relaxed and he did it so easy over 1600m today. He was not fully tested, he’ll be right.”
Savvy Command skips Stewards’ Cup, but stays on Derby trail
The decision to steer Savvy Command (Savabeel) towards Stewards’ Cup day’s easier Class 3 mile race has in a funny roundabout way opened up doors towards a Singapore Derby (Gr 1, 1800m) path.
The Stewards’ Cup (Gr 2, 1600m) and Singapore Derby are the balance of four-year-old feature races still up for grabs following the cancellation of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge with the non-running of the first Leg, the Silver Bowl (Gr 3, 1400m).
There is no Triple Crown at stake, but the two majors remain coveted prizes on the racing calendar with the Stewards’ Cup still seen as the natural lead-up to the Derby three weeks later on July 25.
When Walker elected to bypass the Stewards’ Cup, most would have jumped to the conclusion that the Derby was by ricochet off the menu for Savvy Command as well. With a record that reads four wins between 1200m and 1400m, he did not quite map towards such an event at weight-for-age conditions.
Even the 1600m was unknown territory, but after the game son of Savabeel (Zabeel) came off a ground-saving run on the rails to make every post of the home straight a winning one, just staving off Tangible (Trippi) by a short head, Walker was a lot less half-hearted about a push towards the Singapore Derby, a race that had proven elusive thus far for the New Zealander in his 11 years at Kranji.
“I think we’ll have a go at the Derby,” said the three-time Singapore champion trainer.
“Today, I picked the Class 3 race on the same day and not the Stewards’ Cup as I believe he’s still learning. I also knew Vlad could not ride Savvy Command in the Stewards’ Cup as he is on Big Hearted, but he could ride him in the Class 3 race.
“I really wanted to get Vlad’s opinion about the Derby. He gave him a good ride, he was positive and managed to get him back.
“He didn’t win by much, but you turn four only once, and we’ll run him even if I will have to find another jockey as he’ll ride Big Hearted (a cracking second to Mr Malek later in the Stewards’ Cup).
“Having watched the Stewards’ Cup and I saw the winner and the second horse, they’ll be awfully hard to beat, but he deserves his chance.
“He would need to get a good barrier so he can get some cover as he can go keen. When he is in the open he pulls.
“In saying this, it would seem the Derby won’t have that big a field and may not have a lot of depth. So I think he has a chance.”
As a clear indication of the Remakable Stable galloper’s current glowing form, Savvy Command was bringing a third win from his last four starts, with the winning streak only interrupted by a second place to Quarter Back (Empire Maker) at his last start in a Class 3 race over 1400m on June 12.
That day, he had excuses after he was caught wide punching the breeze, but the different pattern on Saturday saw him bounce back with a vengeance – and a Derby ticket.
Gold Star (Redente) ran third another length away. The winning time was 1min 35.85secs for the 1600m on the Long Course.
With that fifth win along with two seconds and one third, Savvy Command has now amassed close to S$220,000 in stakes earnings for his owners.
Unconquered keeps it uncomplicated
Old stager Unconquered (I Am Invincible) replicated his win from three starts back when he led all of the way with another gutsy catch-me-if-you-can winning ploy.
On both occasions, the eight-year-old scored in a six-furlong race for Class 4 gallopers breaking from wide alleys (10 and eight), except that he was switching to turf in the S$50,000 War Affair 2015 Stakes this time around.
Grass had been anything but conquered at seven previous attempts at Kranji, though he did win twice on turf in New Zealand before he was sent to former nine-time Singapore champion trainer Laurie Laxon, which probably explained his S$227 odds this time, but the surface proved immaterial in the end.
Trainer Leslie Khoo’s sprinter, who again had Koh Teck Huat in the irons, flew the lids to secure the lead and from there on in, he kept galloping like they shall not pass.
Once well ensconced in the driving seat, Koh threw out the anchors in search of those same cheap sectionals he enjoyed at their last win (they combined twice in the intervening period, but ran nowhere after electing for waiting tactics).
Again, the chasers came baying for blood as the shadows of the winning post loomed, but the moment Koh’s stick started to whirl away like an electric fan, Unconquered knuckled down to the task and held all comers.
A blanket could be thrown over the next five home. There was nothing in it as From The Navy (Hinchinbrook) beat the fast-closing Miracle (Statum) to the runner-up spot by a neck, with Valorous (So You Think), Royalty (Fastnet Rock) and Blitzsing (Jimmy Choux) also flashing across the line in unison in that finishing order.
Unwanted he might have been in the betting ring, Unconquered was nonetheless recording his fifth win from 47 starts, but his very first on turf, for stakes earnings that has now exceeded the S$370,000 mark.
He is now raced by the S Eleven No 2 Stable, but used to race in the famous red, blue and green silks of Golden Slipper-winning New Zealand trainer Graeme Rogerson.
Khoo was not quite the punters’ pal on Saturday as he had earlier on smacked them with a S$205 jolt from Auspicious Day (Showcasing) in the S$30,000 Alibi 2017 Stakes, a Class 5 Division 2 race over 1400m, but the veteran Singaporean trainer was just as bamboozled by that double boilover from his yard.
“Auspicious Day was a big surprise, and then Unconquered came along. Yes, he won three runs back and I was quite confident then but not this time,” said Khoo.
“He’s never won on grass here, all his wins here have been on Polytrack, so I wasn’t sure how he would go.
“TH Koh knows him well, he rode him at his last four starts and also rides him in trackwork. I just told him that from the wide barrier, he should try and go forward but to sit handy if something else is quicker.
“He rode him well, and he’s gone all the way. He’s an old horse – as old as me – but he’s still going strong.”
Faith in Clergyman pays off
Patience is a virtue, and it’s again been showcased with Clergyman’s (Artie Schiller) commanding maiden win in the S$20,000 What’s New 2019 Stakes (1600m).
More often in his box or at the farrier shop since his arrival in April 2019, the five-year-old was amazingly at only his seventh Kranji start in a stop-and-start career that actually kicked off promisingly with a third and two seconds at his first three outings.
But leg problems unfortunately poured cold water on connections’ buzz about the new handy sort they might have unearthed, with future plans compounded further by the pandemic-induced disruptions last year.
Trainer Stephen Gray, who has a share in the bay with his bloodstock agent Garry Carvell (who purchased the horse as a yearling at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in Melbourne and also named him), Paul Hickman (St George Stable) and Lim Siah Mong (Lim’s Stable), was of course loath to see such talent go to waste, and was finally rewarded for his dedication in nursing Clergyman back to full fitness in Saturday’s Open Maiden race.
After switching off midfield for Marc Lerner, the S$26 shot turned the race into a one-horse affair as he made his way to the centre of the track, bolting up by just under five lengths.
After stalking up leader Alexander (Zacinto) from the start, Ibex (Dream Ahead) kept on but had no answer to Clergyman’s acceleration, finishing second for his best run to-date, just holding off Juniper Spirit (Vancouver) by a short head. Clergyman clocked 1min 36.4secs for the mile on the Long Course.
“He’s only lightly-raced. After his two seconds, he pulled up sore in front – there was a hairline crack,” said Gray.
“I had to stop him, got him going again when he was right, but then COVID-19 came, which also upset his preparation.
“Here I have to thank my blacksmith for doing a great job on his feet. It’s also a great team effort from the staff.”
The Kiwi handler brought Clergyman back for his seasonal bow in a 1200m on Polytrack for Maidens on April 18, keeping fingers crossed.
He ran seventh to Godfathers (Sebring), and more importantly, came back safe and sound, but the always conservative Gray thought it was still touch and go first-up.
“I honestly didn’t know how he would go today, but I did tell the owners he would run well. He seemed to be enjoying himself out there and was too good,” he said.
“At his first-up run on Poly, he got checked, and could have finished closer. I thought he was the best horse in the field today, but we couldn’t tell with confidence how he would run.
“But the horse put his hand up. He seems to be back on the right track, and could turn into a handy horse.
“Hopefully, he can get the owners’ money back. I’m so pleased he won a race for them.”
That first win cheque has now boosted Clergyman’s prize-money towards the S$20,000 mark for his connections, while Hickman was able to fill his own pockets a bit more in the next race when the St George Stable’s old boy Al Green (Exchange Rate) came with a well-timed run to claim the S$50,000 Elite Invincible 2018 Stakes, a Class 4 Division 1 race over 1100m.
First Choice (Love Conquers All) was pulling out plenty as he edged clear by one length at the 200m, but Gray’s Argentinian-bred eight-year-old kept lengthening up on the outside to eventually gain the upperhand by half-a-length. Master Ryker (Sebring) came with a late burst to take third place another short head away.
The winning time was 1min 4.57secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
“It’s been a hard call of late, but the future seems to be a bit brighter, it’s a relief to win two races,” said Gray.
“That’s for the boys at the stable, they work hard and they deserve it.”