Top sprinter Mr Big showed his class with a smart win in the $75,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1000m on Polytrack on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The dual Group winner (Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe and Group 3 Magic Millions Juvenile Championship), who had never finished worse than second in six runs, had been freshened up after his fighting second to Dragon World in a 1200m race on November 20.
Trainer Michael Freedman, who has not yet returned from his ski holidays in Canada, decided through his senior track rider James Peters to put apprentice Tan Wei Li on in a bid to shave off four kilos from his 58 kg – and it proved a winning gamble.
The promising lad rode a cool and collected race aboard the Elusive Quality three-year-old - even when the speedmap went all haywire from the break.
With noted speedster Lago Bay (Zawari Razali) jumping from barrier No 2, most thought he would be the pacemaker, but he did not show much gate speed and it was Palombaro (Opie Bosson) who assumed that role instead.
Jockey Joao Moreira also tried to punch out favourite Niceone from his outside alley to take up a prominent position, but Palombaro beat him to it to keep him on his outside.
Tan in the meantime wisely dropped Mr Big back in an ideal spot in third on the fence, biding his time for the right moment to throw his challenge.
Palombaro swung for home full of running and held Niceone safely at bay. Even Mr Big looked like he had been left flat-footed by Bruce Marsh's ward's sudden acceleration.
But the complexion of the race suddenly changed when the former top juvenile found his gears.
Riding with much aplomb for somebody so inexperienced, Tan pulled out all stops as he decided to charge through on the inside at the 200m. Mr Big erupted to life to draw on level terms at the 100m before scooting off for an impressive 1 ¼-length win over a very brave Palombaro.
Run For The Hiills (Danny Beasley) who was trapped three wide for most of the way, chased hard on the outside to settle for third spot, another 1 ¾ lengths away. Mr Big, who has now recorded five wins and two seconds for stakes money close to $440,000 for the O & T Stable, ran the 1000m on Polytrack in a smart 58.58secs.
“Things didn't quite work out the way we thought. Everybody expected Lago Bay to lead, but he ended up racing midfield,” said Peters.
“The instructions were to take a sit on the girth of whoever led as we didn't want to cut each other's throat anyway.
“I have to say Willy rode a perfect race. He took his time and made the right call to go for the inside run.
“I was a bit worried for a few metres as he didn't seem to be quickening. But he's got such an amazing will to win and once he levelled up, he just put in to score an easy win.”
Peters was relieved that as the head of the back-up team at the first three 2012 meetings (Freedman returns on Monday), he had been able to lead in two winners – Distinction and Mr Big.
“That's a huge pressure off my shoulders now. We've had two winners and a few seconds,” he said.
“I think that was a good effort. I just hoped Cash Luck had won as well, but he lost narrowly after he was forced to come out wide.”
