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Arc Triumph strikes at long odds

3 minute read

Big outsider Arc Triumph sprang a $267 upset in the $70,000 Better Than Ever 2012 Stakes Class 3 Division 1 race over 1000m on Sunday.

ARC TRIUMPH winning the BETTER THAN EVER 2012 STAKES CLASS 3 Picture: Singapore Turf Club

Unsighted at the rear while coursing out wide throughout, the Showcasing six-year-old only came into the reckoning at the top of the straight when he spun out the widest to give pursuit.

He still had around four lengths to catch up, but well ridden by apprentice Mohammad Nizar, he lengthened up steadily on the outside to finish over the top of his rivals.

Favourite and debutant Master Ryker (Vlad Duric) presented with a fast-closing run as well and would have lived up to the hype if not for Arc Triumph  regaining his winning form. Magnifique (Marc Lerner) also made his presence felt when he came with a stinging run at the 200m but had to settle for third place another half-length away.

The winning time was a fast 57.99 seconds, only 0.29 second outside the record held by Nova Swiss.

Winning trainer James Peters said that Arc Triumph's Sunday win bore an uncanny resemblance to his last win back in February, even if it was back in grade.

"The last time he won with JP (John Powell), he was drawn 12 like today and was caught wide throughout, except it was a Class 4 race," said the English handler.

"He was wide again today, there was a similar strong tempo and when he got clear run, he hit the line very strongly.

"I think he's a horse who enjoys being on his own out wide. To be fair, he's been unlucky at some of his recent starts, like he missed the kick.

"Well done to Nizar, who rode him to instructions. I told him what the horse is like and to just leave him out there, and let him run on in the straight.

"It's great for this group of owners. I think that's the first horse they sent me, and that's his sixth win today."

Arc Triumph has now taken his record to six wins and three thirds from 27 starts for prizemoney that has now hit around the quarter-of-a-million mark for the Arc Marine Stable.

Nizar, who had his indentures transferred from Saimee Jumaat to Peters in March, was bringing up his second winner for his new boss, the first one being Mr Hooper at the resumption of racing on July 11.

It was overall his sixth win for 2020, edging him to third spot on the apprentice jockeys' log, but still some distance off the duelling pair of Simon Kok Wei Hoong (17 wins) and Hakim Kamaruddin (14 wins).

As for Peters, he went one better two races later with $24 shot Meryl (x Rock 'N' Pop) in the $50,000 Mexican Rose 2010 Stakes Class 4 race over 1600m. The win incidentally gave jockey Ruan Maia his fourth win after he took the first three events with El Chapo, The Mareeba Mango and Moon Face before going on to enjoy a red-letter day with seven winners (see other report).