High Noon puts rivals in the shade

Michael Lee
Friday, December 11, 2009

The race had been tagged as a close contest among at least five runners, but at the end of the mile journey of Friday’s $75,000 Progress race, there was little evidence of a showdown, as a far more superior High Noon ended up shooting his rivals to pieces.

Though the former Perth galloper (then known as Scenic Link), now prepared by Steven Burridge, was nudged out of favouritism ($17) by Patrick Shaw’s new Irish import My Drumbeat ($16), he was clearly the horse to beat, though the undefeated Any Takers, Daad’s The Way and Smart General were also dangerous candidates.

Under a copybook ride by Vlad Duric, High Noon, who was ahead of only King Of Sheba from barrier rise, soon looked unstoppable as he started to circle the field from the 800m marker.

High Noon (Vlad Duric) is home and hosed in Race 4.

The momentum was clearly in his favour as he whooshed to the lead in one fell swoop, though he was inclined to hang in the moment he hit the front. Duric just got the Scenic four-year-old to scrape paint as he coasted home an impressive 2 ¾-length winner ahead of Daad’s The Way (Benny Woodworth) with Ace Alphabet (Joao Moreira) running third another neck away.

High Noon was at his fourth win from seven starts for prizemoney past the $160,000 mark for the Hydrocarbon Stable. The winning time was 1min 40.2 secs.

“He quickened up very good though he was hanging in a bit in the end,” said Burridge.

“He’s a very good horse, though he pulls a little in his races. He’s done a fantastic job winning three in a row and you can’t ask anymore from what he’s done.

“He’s earned a break of three to four weeks now and we’ll bring him back for the Four-Year-Old series next year.”

The Four-Year-Old Challenge for the 2010 season has been revamped to comprise the Stewards’ Cup (1400m), Patrons’ Bowl (1600m) and the Singapore Derby (2000m).

“He’s by Scenic. He should be able to see out 2000m, though he’s only run a third over 1800m in Perth,” said Burridge.

“But I think he’s shown he’s a very good horse and he should be able to measure up.”

Duric, who did the steering job after Saimee Jumaat, High Noon’s winning partner at his treble of wins, had been sidelined through suspension, described High Noon as a “serious horse”.

“He got a bit upset around the first corner, but he then settled quite well at the rear,” said Duric.

“But once he got going, he had them covered from a long way. He definitely is showing all the signs of a very serious horse.”

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Risky Business continues to pay dividends

Michael Lee
Sunday, December 13, 2009

French jockey Eric Legrix brought up his ninth winner for the 2009 season, but won his first race as a Malayan Racing Association-licensed rider on Sunday.

Legrix, who applied for the change of status after he became a Singapore Permanent Resident, steered home Risky Business for trainer Steven Burridge in the $75,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1900m.

Risky Business ($60), who incidentally scored his last win with Legrix back in September, endured a torrid trip when posted four wide down the backstraight, but did not show any sign of knocking up as he entered the home straight.

Risky Business gives jockey Eric Legrix a nice shot in the arm.

Though inclined to roll in, Risky Business pulled out plenty at the 200m to reel in Breadwinner (Joao Moreira) who was being hailed the winner, rewriting the record at 1min 59secs, 0.8 second faster than the previous held by Kanegura. Kin Keseki (Ronnie Stewart) wound up third another nose away.

“He’s a horse I know very well. I thought he was in a lot of trouble in the backstraight when he looked blocked for a run out wide,” said Legrix.

“But I didn’t panic and just let him roll along. He never dropped the bit and in any case I thought the going was better off the rails.

“In the home straight, when I called upon him, he produced a very good acceleration and did a good job to win.

“He proved he could measure up against some quality horses today and he certainly can see out a trip.”

Burridge said he was not too confident with his galloper but Legrix rated him to perfection for a most-welcomed win.

“It’s very good for Eric. Even though he could not tuck in and was caught deep, he let the horse stride at his own rhythm.

“Still, I couldn’t really tell how he would run on as he is an in-and-out horse, but he showed a nice turn of foot in the end to break the course record.

“The weight on the runner-up (Breadwinner) probably told on him as well.

“But all credit to my horse. He seems to appreciate Polytrack as he prefers a bit of give in the ground.

“He has been a good moneyspinner to us as well.”

Risky Business is wholly-owned by Burridge who has now collected in excess of $300,000 with the son of Danehill Dancer.

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