3 minute read
Hot favourite Super Salute lowered the colours of fellow four-year-old Silent Is Gold in a stirring battle to the wire in the $85,000 Class 2 race over 1400m on Saturday.
The $7 clear favourite jumped well and landed in the perfect run in-transit for jockey Manoel Nunes, sitting one-back on the rails behind the expected leader, Fame Star (Rozlan Nazam).
However, jockey Shafrizal Saleh had Silent Is Gold ($38) on the leader's flank and with the favourite on his inside, he was happy to hold his position and bid his time before making his move at the 350m.
When he did, Silent Is Gold quickly put paid to Fame Star and kicked to put a near two-length gap on Super Salute, who - although knuckling down to the task - had plenty work to do with a furlong to go.
Super Salute responded to Nunes' urgings, but with a query on seeing out the 1400m and giving Silent Is Gold three kilos in weight, it was a fight to the finish with the boisterous crowd cheering on both four-year-olds to the end.
The brave Silent Is Gold was only headed in the last 50m but all credit to the winner, who not only saw out the seven furlongs to win by a neck, but also did his best work to the line.
No other horses really threatened to spoil the party but Ocean Crossing (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) flourished late to finish another two lengths back in third while a game Quarter Back (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) ran another neck away in fourth.
The winning time was 1 min 22.01secs for the 1400m on the Short Course and Super Salute's fifth win from six starts took his earnings to over $180,000 in Singapore.
The son of I Am Invincible has now proven himself with a win on the seven furlongs and winning trainer Jason Lim has some exciting options for him going forward.
"Very happy that we have ticked the 1400m box," said Lim.
"It was an amazing job by both the horse and the jockey. Manoel had him box-seated but it's not easy to peel out on the 'D' Course and to chase down a good horse like Silent Is Gold.
"To be honest, I thought we would run second at the 200m, but when I saw him (Super Salute) prick his ears, I knew we would get the leader.
"I was very concerned about his barrier manners and whether or not he could see out the 1400m, but he was very calm before the race.
"He jumped beautifully – touch wood he has overcome his barrier manners – and the way he hit the line gives us confidence heading towards some big races over seven furlongs."
Lim was referring to the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) on April 23; a race that looks a good fit at the handicap conditions for the rising star.
"The EW Barker (Trophy) is a good race for him at this stage of his career," explained the Singaporean conditioner.
"He will get a fair weight at the handicap conditions and he showed enough winning today to think that he will be competitive against the better horses in Singapore.
"Then, it's a nice break to the (Group 3) Silver Bowl (1400m) in June and again, this win over 1400m gives us confidence that he will measure up."
To be run on June 11, the Silver Bowl is the first Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge series and the next two Legs that follow are the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1600m), which will take place on July 2 and the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) that will be run on July 23.
Nunes – took home a haul of four winners on Saturday, namely with Arya Pakuan ($11) in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m, Fortune Star ($10) in the $30,000 Class 5 race over 1600m, Super Salute and last but not least, General Command ($10) in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1200m. He was also bullish post race about Super Salute's now bona fide 1400m credentials.
"I always said to Jason that he would be a better horse over 1400m and we trained him that way," said the Singapore champion jockey.
"Today, he (Super Salute) was more relaxed and (Singapore Turf Club starter) John (Pepe) knows the horse well, so he doesn't let him stand in the gates for too long.
"He broke well and we got a good position, but to be honest, I thought there would be more pace.
"Shafrizal rode a very smart race on Silent Is Gold and when he kicked, I thought we might be in trouble as he had no weight.
"I was impressed with my horse when he let down. He's a lovely horse and credit to Jason and his team."
As for stablemate General Command, Lim mentioned that he could be a sneaky chance in the Silver Bowl.
"It was a good win today," said Lim of the Lordship Stable-owned four-year-old by Shalaa.
"We got a lucky break when Golden Ten Sixty-One was withdrawn (late scratching) as he looked the danger.
"But he (General Command) won well in a nice time (1 min 10.75secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack) and we would have to seriously consider a race like the Silver Bowl.
"He had a tough few weeks though, so he will need a freshen up. We will see how he pulls up and make a call.
"The team at the stables – (assistant-trainer) Zulkifliy (Ismail) and (stable supervisor) Kalaimani and the others – have done a great job and I thank them for the work they do to get results like today."
