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A step-up in class was not a problem for the Jerome Tan-trained Sacred Command after the son of Epaulette made it back-to-back wins in the $70,000 Class 3 race over 1600m on Saturday.
A three-time winner in Australia, Sacred Command showed promise at his Singapore debut when he ran on strongly to finish fourth in a Class 4 race (1200m) on March 12. Two starts later, he secured his first win in Singapore after jockey Benny Woodworth won in the protest against initial winner Winning Stride for causing interference in a similar race over 1400m on May 20.
Sacred Command again did his best work late on that occasion, so the step-up to the mile was never going to be a problem going into Saturday's assignment. However, the Raffles Racing Stable-owned five-year-old was having his first start on the Polytrack.
While there was a question mark on how he would handle the surface and Class 3 opposition, punters jumped on board late ($29) with his 51kgs light weight as a factor.
Apprentice jockey Akmazani Mazuki made good use of barrier two to hold an on-pace position early as they eyeballed $12 favourite Pennywise (Bernardo Pinheiro), who jumped from barrier one.
The two held out In All His Glory (Ronnie Stewart) - who had tried to cross and lead from barrier four – with Wind Trail (Manoel Nunes) and Street Cry Success (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) also handy in the small eight-horse field.
But out in front, it was Sacred Command and Pennywise that went stride for stride. It looked a two-horse race for a brief moment in the straight as both Akmazani and Pinheiro got busy in the saddle.
Sacred Command – whom hung out early in the straight - eventually got the upper hand by the 200m and with the seven-kilo pull in weights between them (Pennywise carried the top weight of 58kgs), it was all over bar the shouting in the last 100m.
The eventual winning margin was an impressive two-and-three-quarters of a length from a gamed In All His Glory. Hero (Daniel Moor) ran on well from last to finish another neck away in third.
Pennywise battled over the last 50m to finish out of the placings in fourth and the winning time was 1 min 39.08secs for the 1600m on the Polytrack.
Tan thought the win was excellent given the tough run on the pace throughout.
"He (Akmazani) made good use of the gate (two), but the horse pulled a lot when he sat outside the leader," explained the Singaporean handler.
"It was very hard to do that and win, so it was a very good run and the light weight helped.
"I knew he would handle the Polytrack, but I was worried about the step-up in class and the mile at only his fourth start in Singapore."
Going forward, Tan also thought that Sacred Command may be better suited over a shorter trip on either track.
"From the way he raced today, I think he would be better suited over shorter trips so he doesn't pull so hard," he continued.
"Turf or Polytrack – it doesn't matter – so I will just look for the right race.
"He won three races in Australia and (trainer) Chris Waller told (owner) Dato Yap (Kim San of Raffles Racing Stable) that he had found his mark, so they moved him to Singapore.
"His win today showed he is a good horse that has more to offer here."
Sacred Command's second win from four starts in Singapore took his earnings to over $60,000 for his connections.
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