3 minute read
Out of nowhere, trainer Jason Lim has pulled out a Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge contender after New Zealand import Hurrian scored on debut on Friday night.
A winner at his only New Zealand start, which came in Avondale in a 1200m race on a heavy track in July, Hurrian was able to keep the unbeaten record going in brilliant fashion at Kranji in $50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1100m.
Lim said he was quietly confident of a forward showing from the son of Swiss Ace going on his work, but that successful first outing seems to have emboldened connections.
"He was a nice racehorse in New Zealand. He won at his only start," said Lim.
"He trialled very well and I was pretty confident he would run well tonight. I told Michael to take a sit close to the pace and it's worked out well.
"If he pulls up well, I will back him up next week in a 1400m race, and then we may look at the Stewards' Cup."
The Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m) on March 20 is the second Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge (first Leg, the Group 3 Silver Bowl over 1400m is run on Saturday) with the third Leg, the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on April 18.
"It's great for the owners (Everest Racing Stable) as it's their first horse, and they can look forward to seeing him run in some good races," said Lim.
"The owners are new and made up of a Taiwan and China syndication, but the father-and-son team who heads the group, Victor and Jonathan Chng, are not so new to racing. Victor used to race horses in Singapore in the past."
Ridden by Michael Rodd, Hurrian overcame an awkward alley to take up a prominent spot outside leader Good Luck Charm (Alysha Collett) before proving hard to catch once he went through his gears upon cornering.
Favourite Tom Cat (Ruan Maia) looked ready to pounce after stalking up the speed in an ideal one-out one-back position but went out meekly in the straight.
Toosbies (Vlad Duric) and Lim's Knight (Chin Chee Seng) motored home with a nice turn of foot, but could offer little to rattle the winner who strode in by one and three-quarter length from Toosbies, who hung on to the runner-up spot from the fast-closing Lim's Knight by a nose. The winning time was 1min 5.29secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
Rodd revealed he got the first-up assignment after he spotted the horse trialling with Lim's assistant-trainer Richard Lim in the saddle.
"I was very impressed with the way he trialled with Richard. I told Richard I'd like to jump on him," said the Australian jockey.
"He told me he was a nice horse. He's a good judge, Richard.
"He's a long and scopey horse, very athletic for such a big horse. I think he is the kind to like Polytrack.
"There is plenty of money in the 4YO series, so why not have a crack."