Burridge didn't return empty-handed this time

Michael Lee
Sunday, September 19, 2010

Leading trainer Steven Burridge may have to wait a while before he can call himself “gramps” but he did his chance of being the new Kranji champ no harm with another winner to his tally on Sunday.

Old favourite Alacarte, a previous three-time winner who has mixed it with the likes of Better Than Ever and Mexican Rose, lived up to his $11 favourite tag to gain the verdict in a blanket three-way finish, prompting Burridge to joke that the thriller may “help push the baby out a bit”.

The Australian handler had gone back to Gold Coast to be by his expecting daughter Tara’s side, but the new bundle of joy has decided to hold back his or her arrival for a while. 

Blanket finish: Alacarte (inside) holds off Hopkins (middle) and Count Zerpour
to take Race 10 on Sunday.

“The baby was due on Tuesday but it didn’t happen. I only came back this morning,” said Burridge who sits atop on 74 winners, 23 clear of defending champion Laurie Laxon. “Hopefully this win will push the baby out!

“Alacarte was a bit unlucky at his last run and fully deserves to win. He’s always run respectably against horses like Better Than Ever and he’s done a good job today.

“It helped he had no weight on his back today. I wasn’t too worried the leader was so far in front as I knew he would come back.

“In the end, we got a bit lucky. We got the bob of the heads.”

Stewart echoed Burridge’s confidence in the running, saying that Alacarte is all class and did everything by himself in the home straight.

“Steven’s done a great job with him. He’s always been a smart horse and with the small weight, he quickened very well.

“There were three across the track but my horse had just that little extra.”

Ten Ten Lai with Nelito Cunha tried to reproduce the same catch-me-if-you-can tactics elected to winning effect on July 11, by establishing a 10-length break from the side.

But the Dr Yeoh Kheng Chye-trained speedster seemed to be hurtling along a fraction too fast this time and invariably came back to the chasing pack at the top of the straight.

Hopkins (Joao Moreira) and Alacarte looked the most dangerous as they made a beeline for the winning post, but were later joined by Count Zerpour (Soo Khoon Beng). The trio went hammer and tongs with Alacarte eventually scoring by the barest of margins from Hopkins, denying Moreira his elusive 99^th winner, with Count Zerpour lunging late to miss second place by a head.

In ninth was Feline Groovy, the last ride of Adelaide apprentice jockey Libby Hopwood, who was on a short two-week visit following a scholarship granted for being Dux of the Apprentice School of South Australia. Though Hopwood did not manage to ride a winner at Kranji, she said she was really delighted with the stint, an experience she would love to renew in the near future.

“I had a great time but it would have been nicer if I could have ridden a winner,” said Hopwood, whose best result was a second aboard the Cliff Brown-trained Formidable Quest (Race 9 on Sunday) from 12 rides.

“I love Singapore and its races and I would definitely love to come back one day, this time as a full-fledged rider on a contract.”