By Sharon Zhang
Hot favourite Shanghai Star’s maiden win in the $20,000 Maiden race over 1200m on Sunday has brought some comfort to his trainer Shane Baertschiger.
The Australian handler had planned to return home to visit his family this December, but unfortunately, his mother passed away last Saturday due to a complication from her bowel surgery.
“My mum passed away last Saturday (August 13). I’m flying home to Melbourne tonight and I’ll be back next Friday,” said Baertschiger, who began his training career at Kranji after his father, Don’s retirement in 2012.
“She underwent bowel surgery but got septic poisoning four days later, so the coroner had to hold an inquest.
“We only received her body on Thursday, and that’s why we had to wait for about two weeks before the funeral could be held next Wednesday.”
Though mourning the loss of his beloved mother, Baertschiger made sure business was as usual in his yard, and Shanghai Star’s win on Sunday came as a much-needed relief.
After settling in midfield behind a fast pace set by debut runner Great Command (Danny Beasley), Shanghai Star ($9) swung out wide to launch his assault under jockey Shafrizal Saleh.
The five-year-old son of Smart Missile sprinted past Ibex (Krisna Thangamani) to score by one-and-a-half lengths at his eighth start. Burgundy Lad (Iskandar Rosman) ran another two-and-three-quarter lengths away in third.
The winning time was 1min 9.95secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
Though the win came only in a modest Maiden race, Baertschiger was glad with the Team Work Stable-owned gelding’s first win as he was spelled twice due to injuries.
“He only came to me in July last year after three runs for (trainer) Michael Clements,” he said of his 24th winner this season.
“He had a hairline fracture in the knee then and took three months off. He came back to work and two months in, he fractured his splint bone, so that’s another three months away.
“Now that he’s finally back in the races, we thought he could go close (for the) 1200m on the turf.
“He was only beaten a head by (the second-placed) Golden Monkey (in a similar Novice race Silent Is Gold won on May 21).
“He would probably be better over the 1400m to the mile, and I’ll look at a Class 4 race over the 1400m for him next.”
Shafrizal, who also partnered Shanghai Star at his last five starts, thought the light weight was in his favour.
“He had the light weight (52.5kgs) today and we got a clear run in the straight,” said the Malaysian jockey who pulled off a brace after the Mahadi Taib-trained One Way Ticket ($71) won the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1000m four races later.
“He had no luck the last few times with a few placings (one second and two thirds), and he was checked twice at his last start (when eighth to stablemate Flak Jacket on July 24).
“The barrier (eight) was a bit of a concern because we’re on the ‘D’ course, so the track is a bit tight.
“But he finished off well. For now, 1400m is probably good for him.”
With that first win and three placings in eight starts, Shanghai Star has earned more than $20,000 for his Malaysian owners.
