In one fell swoop, trainer Patrick Shaw has kicked clear of main rival Laurie Laxon by three wins on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
After taking over the leader's baton for the first time when Irish Lightning bagged the first race, Shaw went on to saddle two more wins, one after another: Tzar and Trafalgar Legacy, both ridden by Olivier Placais, who is now the first in line to benefit from Shaw's No 1 jockey Barend Vorster being sidelined through suspension.
Just like Tzar, $11 favourite Trafalgar Legacy, third in last July's Emirates Singapore Derby to Clint, led throughout in the $125,000 Open Class Sha Tin Handicap over 2000m on turf to score a comfortable two-length victory over second favourite ($12) Martial Art (Joao Moreira) with Steadfast Warrior (John Sundradas) third another two lengths away.
The race had the Shaw duo of Trafalgar Legacy (who was racing without blinkers for the first time) and South Easter (Saimee Jumaat) in the lead from the outset while Martial Art was biding his time at the rear, ahead of just King Faalcon (CS Chin).
The order changed little coming off the backstraight but Placais had cleverly slipped some reins to his mount, who had suddenly slid away to a three-length break by the corner.
Martial Art was letting down in workmanlike fashion from the 400m, but the Newbury Racing Stable-owned Trafalgar Legacy rallied strongly to coast home an easy winner.
Shaw said the removal of blinkers coupled with the switch to grass was the winning formula for his ward.
“He switched off better this time without the blinkers on,” said the South African handler, who is now on 53 winners, three clear of Laxon.
“He's also better on turf. He's only a small horse and the Polytrack doesn't suit him at all.
“I don't have any big plans for him, but obviously, the (Singapore) Gold Cup is a race we could consider later.
“We will have to drop him out like he did in the Derby. Today, he wanted to lead in a small field but he doesn't have to do that all the time.
“I will have to put the blinkers back on him, though.”
Placais said the Rock Of Gibraltar entire was still unsettled in certain sections of the 2000m journey, especially when he had company.
“He doesn't like it when horses come running close to him,” said the Frenchman, who is making the most of his unofficial status as Shaw No 2 rider.
“He pulls and wants to go. Early on there was a horse who was right behind him and he didn't settle at all.
“But once he got back onto the bit, he was never going to get beaten. He's a very nice stayer.”
With that fourth success, Trafalgar Legacy has now boosted his stakes earnings past the $310,000 mark, no slim pickings at all for a horse who cost A$75,000 only.
