3 minute read

Debutant Kungfu Hero clearly underlined his potential on debut with a smashing five-and-a-quarter length win in the $75,000 Hard Too Think 2021 Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

For good measure, the Jerome Tan-trained three-year-old also set a new Class record of 1 min 9.1secs over the six furlongs on the Long Course in the Restricted Maiden race, shaving 0.15secs off Time Odyssey's old record set in 2015.

Jockey Bernardo Pinheiro had a good feel of him through trackwork and two good barrier trial runs, including the last one on 5 October when he got up by three-and-a-quarter length from Supreme Liner, so the Brazilian hoop was clearly aware of the bonnet he had underneath him, albeit he was not without chinks in his armour.

"I've been riding him for a long time. He's very powerful but it's very hard to make him sit down and relax, especially in the gates," said Pinheiro, who pulled off a double after taking out his first Singapore Group 1 race in the $300,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) aboard Hongkong Great (see later report).

"I was confident with him, but my real worry is how to let him relax before the race."

It would look like Pinheiro's concerns were dispelled from the get-go because Kungfu Hero  bounced out swiftly from gate 11 to cut across heels before finding the paint in the backstraight.

Turning for home, the $17 favourite still led but another newcomer Gun (Ronnie Stewart), who followed closely in second throughout, tried his best to put a dent on the margins.

His attempts proved futile after Pinheiro gave a few shakes of the reins at the 300m and Kungfu Hero romped away to an easy win from the Donna Logan-trained galloper. October (Shafrizal Saleh) finished another length away in third.

Pinheiro, who finished fourth on the jockeys' log on 30 wins after his current six-month stint ends at Kranji on Saturday, will fly back to Dubai on Sunday night to ride in UAE for the new 2023/2024 season kicking off in late October.

He was glad Kungfu Hero returned a winner despite getting all wound up before the race.

"He (Kungfu Hero) was sweating, but luckily, (head starter) John (Pepe) kept him leashed (behind the gates)," he said.

"He walked in quick, jumped good and everything went well. He came easily into the straight and I just gave him a blow in the last 200m because he's a baby and he had to learn.

"I was also a bit worried about the wide gate because both times he trialled, he jumped from the inside (barriers three and one), but I never doubted that he's good.

"I want to thank John because he was so patient with this horse in the trials and also to Jerome for letting me ride him.

"I'm flying tomorrow night and I'll do trackwork on Tuesday, then trial on the horses next Wednesday or Thursday and have my first race on 28 October.

"I hope to be back for the (Group 1) (Singapore) Gold Cup (2000m) to ride Hongkong Great, if not I would look for another ride."

Held on 11 November, the Singapore Gold Cup is the third and final Leg in the Singapore Triple Crown series. The Group 1 Raffles Cup (1600m), won by Lim's Kosciuszko, and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) were the first and second Legs in the series.

Tan shared it took some time to put things together for the son of Press Statement that he bought at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.

"I was worried about the wide gate and the fact it was his first time on the turf, but he's a very good horse," said the Singaporean conditioner.

"(Trainer) Richard (Lim) and I went to the Magic Millions Yearling Sale together and we saw this son of Press Statement and I liked him. He looked fantastic at the parade ring.

"Richard also wanted to buy him but his budget was lower, so I said I'll buy him if the price was anything above A$40,000. He was okay, so I bought him (at A$45,000).

"He came in June, but he's a crazy horse, which was why it took him so long to be ready for his first race.

"Hopefully he can go over more ground, but he's all speed now, so I think he can go up to 1600m at most."

With his first win, Kungfu Hero has earned his first pay cheque of over $40,000 in prizemoney for the Happy Baby Stable.