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$9 favourite Pacific Vampire certainly lived up to the hype after winning in effortless fashion again in the $70,000 Debt Collector 2016 Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Formerly a three-time winner in Sydney, Australia in races over 1000m when known as Shadow Vampire, Pacific Vampire caught the attention of local racegoers after he first won two barrier trials at Kranji, both under 59 seconds and with a combined winning margin of more than 13 lengths.
The son of Impending then crushed his rivals to win by almost six lengths, albeit in a small field of seven, on debut three weeks ago in a Class 4 Division 2 race (1000m).
Connections were keen to test his mettle against stronger rivals in the Class 3 race on Saturday and Pacific Vampire went on to prove his last win was no fluke, even if he was handed the widest gate no. 12 on the turf.
Pacific Vampire (Bruno Queiroz) took over the lead from speedy stablemate Pacific Hero (Jerlyn Seow) a furlong into the race and sat on the rails while leading the pack into the homestraight.
The "catch-me-if-you-can" tactics worked wonders as Pacific Vampire bounded away easily at the 300m while Queiroz was still sitting still on his mount. By the time the young Brazilian jockey pushed him hands-and-heels at the 200m, it was obvious Pacific Vampire had plenty in his tank as he strolled home to win in a hand-canter, three-and-a-half lengths ahead of another promising four-year-old, Ejaz (Manoel Nunes).
Mt Niseko (Ryan Curatolo), who was very keen in the race, ran another two-and-a-quarter lengths away in third. The winning time was 1 min 8.16secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
Winning trainer Jason Ong was glad the Pacific Stable-owned gelding passed his first test on turf in Singapore with flying colours and believed he could go further in the upcoming feature races opened to four-year-olds.
"He's a good horse in the making," said the Singaporean conditioner, who pulled off a treble on Saturday after Pacific Star ($82) and Healthy Baby ($175) also saluted earlier in the $30,000 Coin Toss 2023 Stakes, a Class 5 Division 1 race (1400m) and the $30,000 Mister Yeoh 2018 Stakes, a Class 5 Division 2 race (1400m) respectively.
"I was pleased he handled the turf well although I knew he raced in Australia on the turf before too but the other way (clockwise direction).
"He was fresh at his first race but got to relax after the three weeks' gap. I'm happy he was able to settle. It was his first time running over 1200m but the race panned out really well.
"Credit to Bruno and (apprentice jockey) Jerlyn (Seow) because they both rode him in work.
"To me, he can go over 1400m, 1600m from the way he relaxed in the race and was not overracing.
"We plan for the (Group 3) Silver Bowl (1400m) and the (Group 2) Stewards Cup (1600m), but we'll see about the (Group 1 Singapore Derby) 1800m."
The Silver Bowl and the Stewards' Cup will be run on 9 and 30 June while the Singapore Derby will be held on 21 July.
First-time race partner Queiroz, who booted home a double after Hasten ($17) won the $50,000 Inferno 2020 Stakes, a Class 4 race (1400m) four races earlier, had been associated with Pacific Vampire since he arrived at Ong's yard.
He, too, reckoned the speedball will not be limited to sprinting races as he progresses further.
"This horse is very different," said Queiroz, who currently sits on top of the jockeys' log on 30 wins.
"When he first arrived in Singapore at Jason's, I worked with him but I went home to Brazil after that.
"Jerlyn rode him after that and won a race, but I jumped on and worked on him again after that.
"He's a very good horse that's still learning. He can run the 1400m, 1600m no problem.
"Thanks to Jason and the owner (Jimmy Poh) for giving me the opportunity to ride him."
With two wins from as many starts at Kranji, Pacific Vampire has taken his earnings to over $60,000 for connections.
