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Mdm Tang, your eye kena bolokok ah ??
Speed Baby comes up trumps in Patron's Bowl
Michael Lee
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Former top Malaysian sprinter Speed Baby defeated a handy field to capture a Singapore Group 1 race at only his third race down South – 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 – 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.
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.”
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.
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 – 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 – 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 – 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.”
