Monday, 20 June 2011: With the undefeated Flax scoring as favourite in the Kranji C, punters pinned their faith in another undefeated galloper in the following race, the $75,000 Class 3 Stakes over 1400m.
Whereas Flax won with authority to remain unbeaten following three starts,
Red Beard 
, who like Flax was punted down to run as the $10 favourite, had to pull out all stops to record victory.
Ridden by Saimee Jumaat,
Red Beard got up in the final stride to record a short-head victory over Smart General (Ronnie Stewart) with Polished Steel (Olivier Placais) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
For trainer Bruce Marsh it was “heart in the mouth” stuff as his promising galloper went about keeping his record intact.
Settled in fifth place behind the speed set by Teen Angel (Barend Vorster) and Shinkansen (John Sundradas),
Red Beard travelled sweetly in the run until having to be pulled wide in the straight.
Saimee was reluctant to push the button too early in the straight, relying more on a “slowly” approach in wearing those down in front of him.
As he gradually improved his position, Smart General sprinted quickly which threw a scare into the Marsh camp, but on the line he showed his ability that is likely to carry him further.
“That was a really good effort,” said Marsh. “On Tuesday he was trained to go just 1200m but I had to change things around when they cancelled a race on me.
“He's done the job and I think now that he may even be looking for further.
“He's now more of a stayer in the making and we'll just now gradually step him up in ground.
“I'm certainly not going to be in any hurry with him. Just potter around and look for the right sort of race.
“He's developing into a nice horse and hopefully we'll be able to keep his winning run going.”
Saimee, who was having his first ride aboard the gelding – Vlad Duric was successful on him at his first two starts – believes the three-year-old has the scope to develop into a more than handy galloper in Singapore.
“I just let him get there slowly,” said Saimee. “It was his first time getting up to the 1400m and I didn't want to push him too early.
“It probably took him about half-a-furlong (100m) to get really warmed up and that was when he was outsprinted.
“But when he hit full stride he really gathered them in.
“He's ready to step it up over further now and I think he's got a really nice future.”
A three-year-old by Zenno Rob Roy from the Sandtrap mare Sandalwood,
Red Beard took his prizemoney past the $100,000 for Auric Stable with his victory.
