Former English galloper Run For The Hills made it two-from-two in Singapore when successful in the $75,000 Class 3 Stakes over 1200m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The victory saw jockey Joao Moreira celebrate his fifth winner for the afternoon.
After a slow beginning, Run For The Hills quickly mustered speed to take up the lead before scoring a five length victory over the $14 favourite Lizarre (Barend Vorster) with Kennecott (Danny Beasley) a half-length away third.
Run For The Hills came to Singapore as the winner of one race from 15 starts in England and made a winning debut when successful in Class 4 grade on August 5, running the 1200m journey in 1 min 11.95 secs.
The gelding showed considerabe improvement from that win. He dropped 14kg in bodyweight and was able to run the 1200m in a brisk 1 min 10.76 secs.
Although well supported in the betting, trainer Cliff Brown held concerns of the wide barrier draw – he jumped from 11 in the 12 horse field – would count against him.
“The barrier did worry me greatly but he's a horse that has good pace and luckily was able to get across quite easily,” said Brown.
“He was also up in grade but he had trained on well and was down in weight so I knew he was fitter.
“He had to work at both ends and he was strong all the way to the line.
“It was a handy field that he was up against today and I may now have to set my sights a bit higher with him now.”
The win was Brown's 38th winner for the season and places him in a clear fifth position on the Trainer's Premiership Table.
It also equals his best performance of the 38 wins he recorded in the 2010 season and with a little under four months of the season still to run Brown is aiming to reach the 50 winner mark for the year.
Moreira replaced Beasley – who was successful at his first run at Kranji – aboard Run For The Hills and said the gelding will win more races here in Singapore.
“He was a little slow to jump but he was able to quickly gather his pace,” said Moreira.
“I was able to get him to relax at the 800m and when we got into the straight he gave a really strong kick.
“He is a very smart horse and has won in quick time today. Take it from me that won't be the last race he wins here.”
A five-year-old by Oasis Dream from the Indian Ridge mare Maid For The Hills, Run For The Hills has won around $70,000 in prizemoney for his Australian-based owner Richard Pegum.
