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Excellent Luck finally gets off
the mark |
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Michael Lee |
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Coming off an ideal box-seat in the $35,000 Maiden-2 race over
1400m, the Strategic Image four-year-old switched across heels at the top of
the straight to tackle Grand Asahi (Olivier Placais) who had hit the front at
the 300m. But Excellent Luck finished a
shade better to put a dent on Grand Asahi’s bid to give his owner Omie
Rangabashyam - who tied the knot the night before - the perfect wedding
present. Excellent Luck grabbed Grand Asahi close home to score by a head
from Grand Asahi with Patrician (Oscar Chavez) third another 1 ¼ lengths
away. “He’s been bridesmaid so many times. It’s a well-deserved win,”
said Burridge. “He’s no world-beater, and even after so many starts, is still
green and gawky, but he’s done a good job. “I think he should be able to get to the mile though he’s
struggled over that distance before.” Winning jockey Saifudin Ismail said he was concerned about his
position in the running but he was happy he got up on time. “I was worried I would get stuck on the rails. He’s a bit of a
big awkward horse and I thought he wouldn’t be able to get out,” said
Saifudin. “But I managed to peel him out for his run. I had to ride him
hard. “If he had stayed a second longer on the inside he wouldn’t have
won.” Excellent Luck started as the $11 favourite and covered the
1400m over Short Course in 1min 23.79secs for the Excellent Timing Stable. |
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Copyright 2010
Singapore Turf Club |
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Singapore Turf Club Local News |
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Je Peux runs them ragged |
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Craig Brennan |
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Trainer Steven Burridge knocked in a race-to-race double when Je Peux ran his rivals ragged in the $55,000 Class 4 Div. 2 Stakes over 1600m on Sunday. Excellent Luck gave Burridge his first winner for the afternoon before Je Peux led throughout in the following race. Burridge now has 42 winners to his credit and is quickly closing in on his previous best season of 51 winners recorded in 2008.
Ridden by Ronnie Stewart, Je Peux
scored a comfortable one-and-a-quarter length victory over Long Haul (Soo
Khoon Beng) with Anish (Danny Beasley) three-and-three-quarter lengths away
third. Burridge put down the improved
performance of Je Peux to his ability to race on the speed and also getting
back onto the turf surface. “He missed the start a bit last
time and didn’t appreciate the Polytrack coming back in his face,” said
Burridge. “If you were to overlook that
run his overall form had been pretty strong. “Going from the Polytrack to the
turf can be a big difference for some horses and it certainly suited this
horse.” Burridge said he went into the
race feeling quietly confident of success although he thought it was an even
race. “It wasn’t a great field but
fairly even,” said Burridge. “It has been a track that has been suiting those
on-pace and they did leave him alone. “It was a pretty good effort to
lead throughout and he’s run a bit of time.” Stewart said there was some good
early pace applied in the race and he was determined to keep – what he
thought – his main danger The Dancer (Barend Vorster) from crossing to the
lead. “We did rip a long a bit early
but I knew they weren’t that strong,” said Stewart. “Once The Dancer dropped
off a bit, he relaxed nicely. “He’s a fairly smart horse on
his day and can certainly win again.” It was Je Peux’s second victory
from 15 starts with a further four minor placings for the Country Rose Stable
who parted with A$42,000 to purchase the four-year-old son of Flying Spur
from the Hansel mare Twinkle In Her Eye as a yearling. |
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Copyright 2010 Singapore
Turf Club |
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