Bull And Bear stocks rise again

Michael Lee
Sunday, April 24, 2011

Raffles horse Bull And Bear was back in winning form to claim first prize for his lucky owners on Sunday.

The Bletchley Park three-year-old was put up as the prize to a raffles organised by Wade Burridge of Magic Millions during last May¡¯s Singapore International Racing Festival and duly scored at his fifth start for his new owners, the owners of a popular pub restaurant in town, in an Initiation race (1400m) last November.

His subsequent outings have been more bearish than bullish since, but the trainer and part-owner, Burridge¡¯s father Steven, knew Lady Luck would smile on his ward again.

Joao Moreira guides Bull And Bear home in Race 1 on Sunday.

Lined up in the $55,000 Class 4 Division 3 Better Than Ever 2010 Handicap (1400m), Bull And Bear ($46) was always in a handy spot in fourth until the home turn where he was angled out for his run by jockey Joao Moreira.

Finishing the best on the outside, Bull And Bear swept past Lucky Superstar (John Sundradas) to score by one length with Chief Secretary (Saimee Jumaat) missing second spot by a nose. The winning time was 1min 23.56secs.

Even-money favourite Matterhorn (Shafiq Rusof) knocked up to run seventh after working overtime to settle in the lead at the 700m.

¡°He¡¯s been a little disappointing since he came back this time in, but I put Magic Joao on him and that did the trick,¡± said Burridge.

¡°But I did change his bit. I put a Norton bit on him and he did settle a lot better today.

¡°He was back to the right distance today and it¡¯s good for the owners as it¡¯s their first horse.¡±

Moreira, who is coming off the back of a terrific four-timer on Friday, said Bull And Bear was always travelling like a winner from the get-go.

¡°He never pulled today and settled really well for me. I wanted him to be closer to the speed, but they went too quickly early,¡± said Moreira.

¡°When I took him out for a clear run at the top of the straight, he stretched out really nicely for a very solid win.¡±

Hint a hit again

Michael Lee
Sunday, April 24, 2011

Back-in-form stayer Hint backed up from his surprise last-start victory last week to again come to the fore in the $75,000 Open Benchmark 74 Ninetyfive Emperor 2003 Handicap (2000m) on Sunday.

The Reset five-year-old came from behind to score in a mile race for Class 4 gallopers last Sunday, and he certainly lived up to his $11 favourite tag to clinch a neck-win over Utrillo (Barend Vorster) with My Race third another half-a-length away.

Prepared by Steven Burridge, Hint looked to have the job cut out at the top of the straight after settling among the tailenders from the off. The Arexevan Racing Stable-owned gelding was in advance of only Big Jin for most of the way and still saw the back of many runners at the top of the straight.

Hint (Vlad Duric) backs up his win from a week prior with success over
2000m on Sunday.

When a clear run appeared at the 400m, Hint however started to put it together with Utrillo and My Race proving hard to peg back on his inside while Martial Art (Koh Teck Huat) was also chiming in on the outside.

But once Duric wielded the whip with renewed vigour inside the last 100m, Hint stuck his neck out to score by that margin from a fighting Utrillo.

Burridge said the penny has dropped for Hint ever since he was gelded last June.

¡°He¡¯s always been consistent and has always showed some ability as a stayer from the start, but then he went up to Malaysia and lost a bit of his form,¡± said the 2010 champion trainer.

¡°We gelded him shortly after and it seems to have done the trick. Vlad gave him a good ride today.

¡°He rode him just as good last week, except he was at bigger odds then. He¡¯s done a very good job again.¡±

Duric rode Hint to victory a week earlier and worked overtime for his victory on Sunday.

¡°It wasn¡¯t an easy ride. They got a bit packed up and I was getting pressure on the inside,¡± said the Australian jockey.

¡°When Martial Art went round my outside, I got a bit of pressure on the outside as well.

¡°We got a bit of luck at the corner and he showed plenty of courage in the home straight and kicked up very nicely.¡±

Hint was at his fifth win from 25 starts and has racked up prizemoney just short of $200,000 for his connections.