By Larry Foley, Singapore Turf Club
The opportunity came knocking and apprentice jockey Krisna Thangamani answered with a perfectly-rated frontrunning ride on Senor Don to win the $100,000 Class 1 race over 1600m on Saturday.
With fellow apprentice jockey Yusoff Fadzli being stood down on medical grounds after three rides, trainer Ricardo Le Grange was more than happy to give the ride to his hardworking apprentice jockey and the two kilos-claiming rider repaid the faith in spades.
Due to the lack of early pace in the race, Krisna took Senor Don ($55) to the front and dictated his own terms. Meanwhile, he had company with Prosperous Return (Jake Bayliss) cruising on his flank throughout and Trumpy (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) also keeping the pressure on in front.
Given the slow early sectionals, some of the backmarkers like Top Knight (Ibrahim Mamat) and Minister (Jerlyn Seow) made their runs before the bend and the $11 short-priced favourite, Relentless (Manoel Nunes) – who did some work wide punching the breeze – still looked close enough to hunt the leaders down.
But it was always going to be a sit-and-sprint with the on-pace runners the horses to beat. When Senor Don kicked with just 52.5kgs on his back, it was game on to see if anyone could get past him.
Prosperous Return loomed as the obvious danger and looked a threat but Senor Don knuckled down to hold him off, before fighting hard under strong riding to keep the fast-finishing So Hi Class (Koh Teck Huat) and Trumpy at bay in the shadows of the post by a head and another head respectively.
The winning time was 1 min 36.13 secs for the 1600m on the turf. Senor Don’s fifth win in Singapore took his prizemoney to close to $300,000 for the Chelsea Stable.
Senor Don’s third win on the trot meant a lot to Le Grange, who could be heard whooping for joy at the winner’s circle.
“A massive congratulations to Krisna,” said the visibly excited Le Grange to presenter Scott Bailey after the race.
“He does all the work on this horse and once Yusoff was stood down, I thought the only right thing to do is give him the chance to ride him.
“To Mr Yong (Mee Him of Chelsea Stable), he’s an absolute champion, a great supporter of racing and my yard. He’s a very good family friend and to see him have a horse that has a chance in a big race (Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup) is great.
“This little horse has come back really well, so to do what he’s done in such a short time after a serious injury; I’m really happy.”
Krisna was grateful for the chance to ride a good horse and thought that there is more to come from the Senor Candy six-year-old.
“I think he’s a nice Class 1 horse. I think he will run a good race in the future,” said Krisna, who now has 10 wins for the 2022 season.
“I would like to thank my (master) trainer who always supports me and the other trainers as well.
“And especially to the Singapore Turf Club for extending my licence.”
With one eye on the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Cup (1800m) on October 15 and the Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) on November 11, it was the runner-up, So Hi Class, who was eye-catching with his fast final sectionals but Relentless – who finished less than a length off the winner – would have lost few friends first-up.
Super Gold Cup Impact
While the Class 1 race looked like it might have been the best guide to the Group 1 races later in the year, there was no better Singapore Gold Cup “trial” than Super Impact ($15) in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1600m.
The five-year-old son of Real Impact was first-up after a very good run (third) in the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on August 4 and while up against some handy types at his fourth run, he did look well-placed at the handicaps with just 55kgs.
Super Impact (Jake Bayliss) opens his account in Race 6.
Turning for home, Super Impact travelled very easily just off the pace and he was only asked for an effort by his jockey – Jake Bayliss – at the 250m when he levelled up with In All His Glory (Vlad Duric), who had taken over from the early leader, Amore Amore (Rosman Iskandar).
Super Impact responded and the race was over in a few strides before he eventually won in a canter by one-and-a-half length over In All His Glory. Hardcore (Matthew Kellady) finished another two-and-a-half length away in third.
The winning time was 1 min 34.25secs for the 1600m on the Short Course. Super Impact’s first win in Singapore took his local prizemoney to close to $80,000 for owner Hsi Jar-Yi.
And in an ominous sign for his potential Singapore Gold Cup rivals, trainer Donna Logan knew exactly what the win meant going forward.
“Bring on the Singapore Gold Cup I’d say,” said Logan to racing presenter Pat Comerford after the race.
“The further he goes, the better he will be!”
Special mentions
In what is a fascinating sidebar to the day meeting, Donna Logan (50 wins) regained the lead in the 2022 trainers’ premiership, just one more than Tim Fitzsimmons with a hat-trick of winners.
Luxury Brand ($27, see previous report) and $17 shot Winning Stride ($20,000 Open Maiden race over 1200m) joined Super Impact in the winner’s circle with Winning Stride’s win a fitting tribute to his late owner, Dato Terry Lee of the Fairdeal and Ronald Lau Stable.
Elsewhere, apprentice jockey Ibrahim Mamat brought up his first career double with wins on the smart Istataba ($30) in the $50,000 Class 4 race over the mile and Karisto ($39) in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1400m. Leading jockey Manoel Nunes returned with a winner in What You Like ($19) in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race (1200m) after being sidelined for three months for a neck injury.
Apprentice Fahmi Rosman waited till the last race of the day to bring up his first winner on the promising Silent Is Gold ($17) and it was a day to remember for the young hoop (see later report).
Ride of the day
Racing presenter Scott Bailey had plenty of good rides to choose from on what was a cracking day of racing but the ex-jockey made Wong Chin Chuen’s (also known as ‘Jimmy’) ride on Wealth Elite in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m his best.
“He drew wide on the track (gate no. 10) but found himself one-off the rail midfield on settling,” explained Bailey.
“He then tacked onto the leaders turning for home and while he got caught up in some traffic, he was able to hold his momentum, keep inside some of the horses trying to pocket him in and I thought he composed himself really well.
“The horse is one to follow too. He is really putting together some very good runs on the turf.
“Ten-out-of-ten for that ride, Jimmy!”
