Stewart breaks drought with a double

Craig Brennan
Friday, April 23, 2010

Dual Singapore Gold Cup winning jockey Ronnie Stewart broke a long run of outs with a race to race double of Friday night.

Stewart had been going through a “rough patch” incurring a couple of suspensions and a number of second placings since his last win aboard King Fury back on January 29.

But that all changed when Surgess took out the $65,000 FPA Financial Prosperity Trophy over 1600m before Cristoforo followed up in the following race, the $55,000 Chesterton Suntec Charity Trophy over 2000m.

Surgess gives jockey Ronnie Stewart a welcomed return to the winner's enclosure.

“It was a big relief to finally get another win under the belt,” said Stewart after his first victory.

“I didn’t think I was riding that bad. Sometimes you get runs like that and you just need something to get your confidence back.

“Hopefully that win is the turning point.”

It certainly was a turning point as Stewart rode a perfect race on Cristoforo having the gelding travelling sweetly in third place before gaining an inside run on the turn and racing clear for a five-and-a-half length victory.

“Hopefully this might be a good sign for later in the night,” said Stewart after returning aboard Cristoforo.

“I had been going through a similar sort of trot before getting on Jolie’s Shinju and she was one of five winners I had over a weekend last year,” said Stewart.

“I really thought going into tonight’s meeting that El Dorado was my best ride.

“I’ve got my confidence back now.”

The win of Surgess was just Stewart’s third victory of the season and could not have come at a better time.

Coming from towards the tail of the field, Surgess scored a neck victory over Wing Warrior (Joao Moreira) with Sweet Dream (Robbie Fradd) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.

Stewart went into Friday night’s race full of confidence after watching a replay of the recent trial of Surgess.

Cristoforo keeps the ball rolling for Ronnie Stewart in the next race.

“Even though I didn’t ride him I thought he trialled quite nicely,” said Stewart.

“But when he hit the front the thought crossed my mind that I had got there too soon. When I ran second on him three starts back I got there too soon on him and he got run over.

“He’s a bit of a big baby, but he sticks on alright and if you can time his run right he might win a few more.”

Both of Stewart’s winners are prepared by Steven Burridge who continues his remarkable run through 2010, striking up win number 36 for the season, giving him a lead of 11 over Laurie Laxon in the Trainer’s Premiership.

Burridge described both his winners as “big kids” who have the ability but don’t always produce it.

He said of Surgess that “he doesn’t know what to do” but was a horse that would continue to improve over a bit more ground while Cristoforo is “unpredictable but has the ability when he puts it altogether”.

Singapore Turf Club Local News

Close This Window

Happy people all round

Michael Lee
Friday, April 23, 2010

The ever-consistent Happy Everybody keeps putting a wide grin on trainer Steven Burridge and his connections – and a new impromptu partner, champion apprentice jockey Mark Ewe.

After apprentice Ruzaini Supien was stood down by order of stewards earlier in the night, Burridge gave the Malaysian rider the call-up, and the link-up paid instant dividends.

Tucked into the box-seat from the jump in Friday’s $95,000 Open Benchmark 89 race over 1200m, the Commands five-year-old, who was bidding for a three-in-a-row, travelled beautifully behind leader Dr Lemon (Barend Vorster) up to the home turn.

As Dr Lemon rolled off the rails, Happy Everybody ($24) needed no second invitation to take up the run down the wide gap, kicking into overdrive at the 200m to score by 1 ¼ length from Dr Lemon with Big Choice (Ronnie Stewart) third another three parts of a length away.

Happy Everybody (Mark Ewe) gives Steven Burridge another treble during 2010.

Burridge, who later again took top honours with a fantastic four-timer to extend his lead in the premiership to 38 wins, 13 clear of six-time champion trainer Laurie Laxon, declared Happy Everybody an absolute joy to train.

“(Trainer) John Sadler had him back in Melbourne and told us we would have lots of fun with him,” recalled Burridge.

“He couldn’t have been more spot-on. He’s such a champion and just keeps getting better and better.

“Ruzaini got hurt while riding Excellent Luck for me in trackwork this morning. The horse was sedated but he reared up in the barriers and got Ruzaini sandwiched against the gate.

“We put the horse back and he stood all right. Ruzaini came back and said he was okay but I guess he was a bit bruised.

“He took some painkillers, but couldn’t ride tonight. It’s unfortunate for him but lucky for Mark.

“It was Mark’s first ride for me and he did a good job on him. The horse is foolproof and does everything by himself.”

Ewe said that even though he did not know much about his pick-up ride he just let his mount do the running.

“I didn’t know the horse, but he definitely is a horse with plenty of ability,” said a delighted Ewe.

“I wasn’t too concerned by the leader (Dr Lemon) who was carrying a lot of weight. I was quite confident I had him covered.

“I’d like to thank Mr Burridge for having picked me for the ride. I hope there’ll be more from him from now on!”

Happy Everybody has now chalked up nine wins from 58 starts for stakes money in excess of $560,000 for the Eight Eight One Stable.

Burridge later went on the claim a four-timer when Shaolin Soldier took out the final event on the program - the $55,000 Class 4 Div. 1 Stakes over 1200m.

He had earlier been successful with Surgess and Cristoforo who were both ridden by Ronnie Stewart.

Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.