From: Julie Burridge nee Barnicott [jbarnicott@hotmail.com]

Sent: Sunday, 3 May 2009 4:37 PM

To: AB Robert Moller AB Robert Moller

Subject: winner update

Hi There

Please don't put the picture of Steve's head on the front page any more - they look terrible. It's much more interesting to look at the horses photos.

Thanks

Jul

Singapore Turf Club Local News

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Burridge eyes off Patrons' Bowl for Drovetti

Michael Lee
Saturday, May 02, 2009

It was tagged as the most open race and certainly the most competitive race of Saturday’s 11-race programme, and the end-result certainly lived up to the billing.

The first five runners of the Open Benchmark 83 (1400m) finished within a length from each other, with the ultra-consistent Steven Burridge-trained Drovetti emerging a narrow short-head winner over Dragon World, with Mr Hero, third another head away.

Holtmail, who had no luck at all when held up for a run between the 400m and the 200m, wound up fourth another three parts of a length away, beating Cigar Royale into fourth by a neck.

A busy finish with Drovetti (Joao Moreira) just prevailing.

No Limit (Erasmus Aslam) was the best away from his outside gate and quickly showed his intentions to dictate terms by crossing onto the rails 200m from the jump. Dragon World (Danny Beasley) sidled up on his girth while Holtmail (Robbie Fradd) was third in the box seat.

Drovetti (Joao Moreira) had as usual found a nice handy position behind the speed in fifth on the rails.

By the home turn, No Limit was already showing the white flag. Holtmail had nowhere to go right behind, while Dragon World had his head in front but still not off the bit yet.

The last 200m turned into a ding-dong affair with at least five runners who could still realistically land the top prize. One second, Dragon World looked like he could hang on for dear life, the next My Hero (Vlad Duric) seemed to be the one who could sneak in on the inside.

But at the last hop, it was the power of Moreira who made the difference yet again. The Brazilian showed his outstanding polish in the pigskin to lift Drovetti right over the line in the nick of time to score by a short head.

Burridge was delighted with the win of one of his most promising residents in his barn, but was surprised he jumped off as the favourite at $16.

“I knew he had a good chance, but he was no way a standout to justify his $16 odds,” said Burridge.

“I had told Moreira to try and sit closer to the lead today as I didn’t think there would be any speed. But the pace was pretty on right from the start, and the rider took his own initiative to settle him in fifth.

“It was a close finish but I think he won thanks mainly to Moreira’s ride. He’s a very good jockey.”

Burridge has now targeted the Group 1 Patrons’ Bowl run over 1400m on May 31 and the first Leg of the Four-Year-Old Challenge for Drovetti, a four-year-old by Mossman out of the Pauillac mare Clareta.

“After today’s win, he’s proven he can measure up to the best. He beat a pretty handy field today and the Patrons’ Bowl looks like an ideal race for him,” said Burridge.

“But It will all depend how he pulls up today as well. I might give him another run in between.”

Drovetti has now established a handy record of four wins and three placings from nine starts for prizemoney close to $200,000 for the Ninetyfive Emperor Stable.

Moreira, on his end, made the afternoon even more unforgettable when he rated Bengawan to perfection in the last race, the $55,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1400m.

In another tight finish, Moreira this time hit the front earlier and managed the lead by the skin of his teeth to prevail by a head from Moment Of Truth (Duric), with favourite Newfoundluck (Saimee Jumaat) third another short head away.

Moreira however had to earn his treble in the Stewards' Room as Duric fired in a protest for alleged interference in the home straight. The objection was however quickly overruled and the Brazilian jockey could pick up his 15th win in only six weeks spent at Kranji.

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