3 minute read

The new syndicate put together by trainer Stephen Gray struck gold after their one and only galloper Bransom scored from barrier to box on debut in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race (1200m) on Saturday.

Similar to his barrier trial win two weeks ago when the three-year-old son of Brazen Beau showed an abundance of speed from the get-go, he never looked beat this time, even when $15 favourite Star North (Louis-Philippe Beuzelin) made up ground on his outside 100m before the post.

Under a determined ride from jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong, Bransom ($20) held on valiantly to win by half-a-length from Star North, while Gray's second runner, Arya Pakuan (Calvin Habib) came from mid-field to storm home another one-and-a-quarter length away in third.

The winning time was 1min 10.14secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.

Gray was delighted with the Stephen Gray Racing, Team Cheval & Goldenhill Stable's first winner and already has the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) in mind for the speedy sort.

"We syndicated him to a group of good friends like (owner) Eric Koh (of Team Cheval Stable) and some first-time owners. It's great to get a fast horse for them," said the New Zealander, who had the happy owners for company at the winner's circle.

"He's (Bransom ) always been a fast horse. I knew the horses behind would come at him, but he has to use his natural speed to go forward from the wide draw.

"He did well to get across and kicked again in the end.

"We might have a go at the first leg of the 3YO races, but probably another Novice race before that and we'll see how he pulls up.

"He had a hard race today in a pretty strong field. I'm very thankful for the owners' support in tough times like this."

The Singapore 3YO Sprint will be held on April 8 and it is the first leg to the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge series, which is followed by the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 29, and culminates with the Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on May 20.

Kok commended Bransom for his bold run but noted that there was room for improvement.

"He jumped nice from the wide gate (no. 11), but I was a bit worried because he was quite keen throughout the middle stages," said the Ipoh-born rider, who bagged a double with the Gray-trained April ($14) in the $20,000 Open Maiden race (1400m) three races later.

"In the straight, he started to kick off even before the horse (Star North) was coming up on the outside.

"I rode him hands and heels, he kept finding but at the same time, he was still a bit green and unsure of what he was doing alone for so long (leading).

"But he still fought on despite the pressure and got the job done."

Gray acquired Bransom through bloodstock agent Bevan Smith, but if not for his bloodstock agent Peter Twomey's recommendation, the gelding would not have made his career debut at Kranji.

"I bought him from the Magic Millions Gold Coast (National Yearling) Sale two years ago but it was through Bevan because it was Covid-19 and we couldn't get there," said Gray, who pulled off a three-timer on Saturday in the later races with Billy Elliot ($30) and April.

"He was at the sale, so I rang him up and asked him 'What's on your list?'

"We did the bidding over the phone and he (Bransom) was passed in but I picked him because I liked his pedigree and he's affordable (A$30,000).

"My bloodstock agent, Peter, managed him afterwards. He (Bransom) ran quite well in one trial (won over 800m on January 24 last year at Goulburn racecourse) in Australia and we were going to race him there, but Peter said he's a quick little horse who will be good in Singapore, so we brought him here.

"I also bought Arya Pakuan through Peter for my Indonesian owner (Untung Joesoef) and his friends. He was a raced horse in Australia from (trainers) Mick Price (and Michael Kent Jnr).

"He's a lovely horse, not as sharp as Bransom, more of a 1400m (horse to a) miler, but he ran home strong to run third. He'll get the mile."

Bransom has recouped his price tag after taking home more than $40,000 in prizemoney for connections with that first win.