English galloper Run For The Hills made an impressive start to his Singapore career with victory in the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1200m on the Polytrack on Friday night.
Ridden by Danny Beasley, Run For The Hills scored by two lengths over Secondtonone (Ronnie Stewart) with West Two (Barend Vorster) the same margin away third.
Run For The Hills is the first horse owned in Singapore by Richard Pegum with trainer Cliff Brown hoping it might be the start of a “good and fruitful partnership”.
“He's got some horses in Australia with Chris Waller including My Kingdom Of Fyfe and this is the first horse he has raced here in Singapore,” said Brown.
“I was hopeful, rather than confident, of the horse running well tonight. I'm just grateful that he was able to hold on.”
Carrying the topweight of 57.5kg, Run For The Hills was the first to jump and Beasley allowed the five-year-old to find his way to the front.
He was running strongly at the head of affairs to the hometurn when Beasley clicked him up and put a couple of lengths on those that were following.
“I must admit I was getting a little nervous over the last 200m,” said Brown. “I thought he was beginning to weaken a bit.
“But Danny judged it well and he responded well to his riding.
“He's a nice horse and has done everything right since he's been here.
“We'll just pick our way through the grades at this stage and hopefully he'll pick up a few more along the way.
“I also think as his fitness improves he'll get over a bit more ground.”
Run For The Hills had 15 starts in England before landing in Singapore back in April, for one win over six furlongs.
A five-year-old by Oasis Dream from the Indian Ridge mare Maid For The Hills, Run For The Hills collected around $30,000 for his victory on Friday night.
