Burridge Soldiers on

Michael Lee
Friday, August 27, 2010

Leading trainer Steven Burridge did his first Singapore premiership ambitions no harm with an early winning double courtesy of two favourites on Friday night.

After Golden Scalpel ($12) opened proceedings with a dominant three-length victory for apprentice Muhd Firdaus in the $35,000 Class 5 race over 1600m, it was odds-on favourite Shaolin Soldier’s turn to bolt in two races later in the $55,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m, adding another victory to Brazilian jockey Joao Moreira’s commanding lead (92 wins) on the log.

Shaolin Soldier (Joao Moreira) gives trainer Steven Burridge the second leg
of an early double on Friday night.

Burridge, who had taken the helm in the Kranji championship from way back in March, has made every post a winning one since, and is now on 62 winners, 15 clear of defending champion Laurie Laxon.

Shaolin Soldier, who scored his only previous win with Moreira (April 23) in a similar event (Class 4 race over 1200m), settled at the rear before producing an astounding turn of foot at the top of the straight to run his rivals ragged down the home straight.

The son of Exceed And Excel coasted home by more than three lengths from Lightning Ace (Leong Yoon Fei) with Williams third another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 11.37secs.

“He’s a fairly average horse but he’s done a good job against some good class horses before,” said Burridge.

“I told Joao to settle him at the rear and get some cover if possible. Last time, he would run up there but did not run along.

“Joao rode him cold and in the home straight he gave a very strong kick.”

After running a couple of placings, the Hippocrates Stable-owned Golden Scalpel was a cut above in the opening event, carving up his rivals for an all-the-way win, thanks largely to a well-rated ride by trainer John Meagher’s up-and-coming apprentice Firdaus.

“He was thereabouts at his previous runs and the 4kg claim was a big help tonight,” said Burridge.