SINGAPORE: Rails The Way Home For Steadfast Warrior

Monday, 16 July 2012: A perfect rails hugging ride saw Steadfast Warrior take out the $75,000 Kranji Stakes C over 2200m on Sunday.

Steadfast Warrior Photo by Singapore Turf Club

After jumping from the widest alley in the eight horse field, jockey Danny Beasley found himself on the fence after the field had gone 250m.

Going around one horse in the straight, Steadfast Warrior  raced away over the final 200m to score by two-and-a-half lengths over Tangible Assets  (Stephen Baster) with Wonder  (Opie Bosson) a length-and-three-quarters away third.

Beasley had Steadfast Warrior relaxed in sixth position back on the rails on a solid early pace that was set by Make A Return  (Azhar Ismail) and Raffles Knight  (Alan Munro).

Tan Wei Li aboard Daring Fighter  made a mid-race move when the pace slackened going down the back straight and coming off the back the pace quickened.

Beasley was still content to bide his time aboard Steadfast Warrior and saved plenty of ground to be on the leaders heels turning for home.

After being held-up slightly on straightening, Beasley was able to get a run on the gelding who then powered away to a commanding win.

Trainer Cliff Brown praised the ride of Beasley and said Steadfast Warrior had deserved his victory.

“Nothing went right for him last time,” said Brown of the gelding's fourth placing behind Make A Return over 2400m on June 24.

“He was wide all the way last time but Danny got him into a lovely position and gave him the perfect ride.

“That's what got him home today.”

Beasley said Steadfast Warrior had travelled sweetly throughout the race and his main concern was getting a clear run in the straight.

“He had a really good run and had plenty of petrol in the tank,” said Beasley.

“I was a bit worried about getting a run on him early in the straight, but when he got through he attacked the line really well.

“He's a horse that belies the fact that he's run 11 seconds during his career and while he's in this sort of form he can certainly win again.”

A five-year-old by Refuse To Bend  from the St Jude  mare Over Subscribed , Steadfast Warrior has now won four of his 41 starts and in the process took his prizemoney past the $300,000 with the victory.