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Former top Malaysian sprinter Speed Baby defeated a handy field to capture
a Singapore Group 1 race at only his third race down South 每 the Patron＊s
Bowl - on Sunday.
A former six-time winner over distances ranging between 1100m
and 1600m in Malaysia, the Fastnet Rock four-year-old was deemed capable by
his connections of having a fair crack at the rich pickings across the
Causeway following his last win, the Group 1 Coronation Cup in Ipoh last
November.
Malaysian＊s top hoop Azhar Ismail, who had partnered the
exciting galloper to three of his six wins when he was prepared by Kevin
Coetzee, recommended Speed Baby＊s owners, the Eastern Stable, to send him
to Singapore champion trainer Steven Burridge 每 an advice that paid
dividends on Sunday in the $500,000 Group 1 Patron＊s Bowl (1600m), the
second Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.
After a warm-up debut on May 8 when fifth to Keep Away in an
Open race over 1400m, Speed Baby gave a first peek of his potential to the
Singapore crowd when he made ground for third to Jamal Malik in the first
Leg of the series, the Stewards＊ Cup (1400m) on June 6.
Speed Baby (Azhar Ismail) proves
too strong for his rivals in Sunday's Group 1
Patron's
Bowl over 1600m.
Unable to ride Speed Baby at his first two starts at Kranji
(Saifudin Ismail was aboard on both occasions) Azhar stepped up to the
plate for the Patron＊s Bowl, and just like at his last hit-and-run mission
aboard Fatkid for trainer Tan Hor Khoon in the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II
Cup on April 29, the Malaysian multiple-champion jockey delivered the
goods, suddenly stamping himself as a big-race specialist in Singapore.
After settling Speed Baby worse than midfield behind the pace
set by Tolmon Nika (Ronnie Stewart), Azhar bided his time before bringing
his mount within striking distance at the top of the straight.
But it was the $8 favourite Better Than Ever (Saimee Jumaat)
that the Kranji crowd was willing on at the 300m, in a bid to wipe away the
memory of his shock defeat in the first Leg, as he was eased down the
middle of the straight for his last burst.
Trainer Laurie Laxon＊s champ however laboured under pressure
yet again, unable to conjure up that lethal turn of foot that had
annihilated his adversaries at his previous 14 wins. On his inside, Flying
Fulton (Jose Verenzuela) was fighting back, but he could not contain the
finish of Speed Baby, who suddenly dove through a gap between Flying Fulton
and Better Than Ever to go and score by a neck at the odds of $95, a sign
there had been some specking on his chances prior to the race.
Flying Fulton held
on for third another half-a-length away while Always Certain (Danny
Beasley) ran on well for a creditable fourth another length away. The
winning time was 1min 35.19secs.
※I thought he had a chance after he ran third, only
half-a-length behind Better Than Ever in the first Leg,§ said Burridge who
was riding on the crest of a wave in feature races having captured the
Piala Emas Sultan Selangor with Risky Business in Kuala Lumpur just last
Sunday.
※I was expecting a good run but I couldn＊t be overly
confident. He＊s only an average track worker and I didn＊t think he would
handle the track.
※He only does what he has to do but he＊s such a relaxed and
docile type of horse. I was very pleased with the way he has improved since
his last run, though.
※Azhar rode him with
a bit of luck at the back and at the 600m, he was travelling so well that I
knew he would be in with a chance as they had gone hard in front.§
Trainer Steven Burridge is flanked
by President S R Nathan and jockey Azhar
Ismail
at the trophy presentation of the Patron's Bowl.
Burridge said that laid-back nature of his new ward does
suggest he can get on with the job in the third and final Leg, the $1
million Group 1 Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 17.
※He＊s so relaxed and it shows in his racing pattern. I think
he can get the 2000m,§ said Burridge who has yet to win the coveted 2000m
race.
※Anyway, that＊s why he＊s here. He won six from eight in Malaysia and
he＊s obviously good enough to have a go at the better races down here.
※He cost the owner A$280,000 as a yearling. He＊s certainly
lived up to his price tag.§
With his Patron＊s Bowl success, Speed Baby has now brought his
total earnings past the $550,000 mark, almost double what he had earned
back in Malaysia.
※It＊s Azhar who recommended the horse to me,§ continued
Burridge. ※The owner is a leading owner who has about 60 horses in Malaysia.
※I＊m really thrilled they＊ve won a big race here. Hopefully,
they will send a few more down here.§
Azhar was understandably proud for his part in believing in a
Malaysian-based horse who could measure up to Singapore horses
每 and being the winning jockey to do the steering duties himself.
※I＊ve always known he had the qualities to compete in Singapore,§
said Azhar.
※He＊s been improving all the time since he＊s been here. I had
a look at his last run and I had a silent hope he could cause an upset.
※This is my second win in Singapore this
year 每 and both wins have come in Group races. I＊ve always loved Singapore and
I will definitely come down here more often.§
Laxon was cutting a pensive figure as he watched the replay of
the Patron＊s Bowl but was still drawing positives from Better Than Ever＊s
run.
※He had no excuses, but he still ran a neck second 每 which is
a very good effort,§ said Laxon.
※But it＊s true he did not have the same acceleration in the
home straight. Saimee told me he was not the same horse.
※We＊ll see how he pulls up and then we will still press on for
the Derby.
That＊s what we have to do now.§
Saimee said Better Than Ever had enjoyed a good run in the
race but was left a bit when the sprint went on.
※He struggled a bit when the sprint went on,§ said Saimee. ※He
has lost some of sprint now and maybe he＊s looking for a bit more ground.
※He＊s becoming more dour.§
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