Iwa Antilia sheds maiden status

Michael Lee
Sunday, November 20, 2011


A short spell, a light weight and the inside alley were the key factors to Iwa Antilia’s maiden success on Sunday.

 

The Japanese-bred by Rock Of Gibraltar had failed to finish in the money in nine previous runs at Kranji but had been showing a glimpse of ability at his two runs from a five-month break. On both occasions (1200m and 1400m), the Hippocrates Stable-owned gelding led before weakening in the home straight, though the margin was a lot shorter at his last defeat when only a 1 ¼ fourth to Devonshire.

 

Stepped up to the mile of the $35,000 Maiden race on Polytrack, Iwa Antilia ($46) again took up the running and stayed in that spot all the way to the line this time around.

 


Koh Teck Huat gets the best from Iwa Antilia to land Race 6 on Sunday.

Prince Roi (Olivier Placais) was the first to lead from his inside draw but Iwa Antilia, who broke from barrier No 1, soon charged forward to challenge for the lead, which he secured down the backstraight.

 

Iwa Antilia was then able to steady up the pace to swing for home looking like the horse to run down. Icandoitto (S Anandan) and Prince Roi were unable to make an impression, but Golden Lark (V Sivan) was looming large while favourite Biggest Chief (Shafiq Rusof) was winding up from the rear.

 

But Koh wielded the stick to good effect and Iwa Antilia fought bravely to hold off Golden Lark by three parts of a length on the line. Biggest Chief had every chance when he was peeled out to the outside for his run, but he did not really ping only to settle for third another two lengths away. The winning time was 1min 40.56secs.

 

“We gave him a break as he needed more time to strengthen up,” said Burridge.

 

“The drop in weights from 56kg to 49 with the kid’s claim and barrier No 1 all helped. He could not lose – it was his birthday!

 

“Credit must go to (senior track work rider) Mick (Lockett) who does all the work on this horse. It’s good for Dr Tan (Kai Chah) to have another winner.”

 

Koh said Iwa Antilia had half the battle won the moment he led on settling down.

 

“He was travelling so well I just let him go forward,” said Koh who is at his second win after steering the higher profile winner Captain Obvious on October 28.

 

“At the top of the straight, he kicked again and though I could feel Sivan’s horse closing in, I was always confident he would make it.”






Singapore Turf Club - Local Racing News

 

 

Gold Pyramid begins on solid foundations

Michael Lee
Friday, November 11, 2011

A little bit of re-schooling paid off for Gold Pyramid who bounced back from a barrier mishap a month ago to score at his delayed debut on Friday night.

 

The Snitzel four-year-old overcame a wide trip in the $65,000 Big Maverick 2008 Stakes, an Initiation race over 1200m on Polytrack to hold off the fast-finishing favourite Fat Bobo (Joao Moreira) by a neck in a blanket finish.

 

Third was Joyful Melody (Ronnie Stewart) another short head away. The winning time was 1min 12.43secs. 



Gold Pyramid (Tan Wei Li) holds off the late challenge of Fat Bobo (Joao
Moreira) to win Race 2 on Friday night.

Gold Pyramid ($54) who is raced by first-time owners Merton Park, saw his race debut postponed when he reared, became cast and was scratched at the gates in a similar Initiation race, but over 1200m on grass, on October 16. With the statutory white card handed to the cantankerous gelding, his trainer Steven Burridge had no other choice but to send him back to school.

 

Burridge could not have been happier with the results, with Gold Pyramid scoring in a barrier trial on November 3, a sign he had mended his ways.

 

“He got scratched from a race after he reared and fell. We had to spend a bit more time with him at the barriers and he’s come good since,” said Burridge.

 

“I was a bit surprised he won tonight even though he has won two barrier trials (he won another one in September). They were very ordinary trials.

 

“We put the apprentice on him tonight as he’s only a small thing and we didn’t want to punish him with too much weight at his first run.

 

“He was caught three wide and it wasn’t the boy’s fault. But in the end, he finished very well though he is still very green.”

 

Burridge said Gold Pyramid was purchased by his son Wade at the Magic Millions sale out of a Brisbane barrier trial at Eagle Farm.

 

Tan, who only secured his first win on October 21 aboard Lightning Mac for his master Mok Zhan Lun, has been a regular visitor at the winner’s circle as he was already at his fourth success in 16 rides.

 

“This is very encouraging as I was not expecting such a good start to my riding career,” said Tan who did his apprenticeship with Kranji trainer Mark Walker in New Zealand.

 

“The horse was caught wide but he was travelling nicely. I waited for the others to make their move to make mine as well.

 

“He was looking around a bit in the home straight, but he responded very well to my riding to just get there on time.”