Cahill Burridge pairing on song

Michael Lee/Craig Brennan
Saturday, October 04, 2008

The combination of trainer Steven Burridge and jockey Michael Cahill seems to have struck a purple patch. Already successful twice with Drovetti and Happy Everybody, the two Australians were back in the winner's circle on Saturday with Zinku in Race 5 and The Big Gee in Race 9.

Cahill himself notched his first Kranji treble, having also saluted on Brian Dean's Kiwi Maestro earlier on at Saturday's mixed surface meeting.

On both wins for Burridge, the Queenslander showed why he is fast becoming a well sought-after jockey at Kranji with two well-timed come-from-behind wins. Zinku ran on from off the pace to take the $65,000 Novice race (1600m) and similarly, The Big Gee, who had not won since his debut win almost a year ago, scored an authoritative win after being held up at the rear in the $75,000 Kranji Stakes C (1200m).

Zinku gives Michael Cahill the second leg of a winning double.

Cahill dropped Zinku straight to the back at barrier rise, while stablemate Arbitrator (Eric Legrix) disputed the lead with Fortune Warrior (Mohd Zaki) upfront.

The pace was hot as the leading pair soon drew clear down the backstretch, with Kingpin (Oscar Chavez) clapping on the speed in third on the fence.

Rounding the home turn, Zinku had inched forward and was hooked out wide by Cahill while the two pacesetters were quickly weakening out of the race.

Without resorting to the persuader, Cahill adroitly balanced his horse up inside the last furlong, cuddling him to the line with 1 ½ lengths to spare from second-placed Mission Supremo (Soo Khoon Beng). Second favourite Fast As Lightning (Saimee Jumaat) worked home well but had to settle for third, separated by a similar margin.

Zinku, who started as the $13 favourite, is normally ridden by Affandi Taib, but was replaced by Cahill following Burridge’s apprentice’s suspension.

“He’s no world-beater but he’s done a good job. He’s only light-framed so he can’t clock in too much work,” said Burridge.

“The fast pace suited him down to the ground. He was also unlucky at his last couple of starts.

“He’s a stayer and will obviously improve as the distance gets further.”

Cahill who has now registered six wins from 39 rides could not be happier at the way things have turned out for him at his new Singapore sojourn.

“Things are getting along nicely for me here. It’s a great track to ride on and I’m also grateful for all the support I’ve been getting from the trainers,” said Cahill.

“This horse (Zinku) is a natural stayer and what’s good about him is he has a very quick sprint. The fast pace played in our hands as well.

“The moment I let him go forward he just kicked clear and did enough to get to the line first.”

Zinku has now scored two wins and five placings for stakes close to $120,000 for the C & T Stable.

The Big Gee gives Michael Cahill the third leg of a winning treble.

The win by The Big Gee, who was sent off a $15 favourite, gave punters some respite from the battering of long-priced winnersthrough the day.

Burridge picked out the Polytrack surface for The Big Gee as he felt the surface would be a bit ‘kinder’ to the gelding.

“He was just jarring up a bit on the turf,” said Burridge. “I picked this race out for him as I felt the surface would suit him.

“It was just a matter of him handling it. He had been working OK on the track, but race conditions are a little different.

“If he handled it, I knew he was a class better than them.”

The Big Gee has been a hard horse for Burridge to prepare. A few niggling leg problems – nothing serious – need constant attention.

Burridge described him as a big heavy horse, but not one that copes with a lot of work.

“Looking at him you would think he would handle the work, but he doesn’t,” said Burridge.

“He races best when he’s on the fresh side. He also finds the 1200m just a fraction short – unless they go hard – and the 1400m too far.

“This win opens up a few more options for him. At least we now know that he likes the surface.”

The Big Gee came to Burridge’s care from Australia as the winner of five races, accumulating almost A$66,000 in prizemoney, but in 13 starts in Singapore, which has netted two victories and a further seven placings, he has notched around $160,000 for the Big Valley Stable.

“We probably paid a little too much for him, but at least he’s starting to pay his way,” said Burridge.

“It’s good that he’s repaying the owner. He hasn’t had the best of luck this year. Hopefully this might turn it around for him.”

The Big Gee is a six-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Strategic from the Euclase mare Lin O’ Dee and began his Singapore career almost 12 months ago.