Most expected Birthday Gift from Leslie Khoo's stable to win the Kranji Stakes C over 1200m on the polytrack.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Sent off as the favourite at start time, Birthday Gift was looking to add to his four victories which had come from as few as six starts. The four year old gelding would get a claim of two kilos and from barrier number six was instantly placed in the box seat behind the early leader.
Always traveling nicely, Birthday Gift began to inch up on the leaders even before the field turned for home and put the race to bed in a matter of a few strides. Striding out nicely up the straight, he allowed himself a moment before he eased past the early leader to win with something in hand.
Cash Dot Com followed the winner home, a length a three parts behind which looked further away than it actually was. The winning time of just over a minute and twelve seconds was impressive and not surprisingly, his jockey and trainer could not have been more pleased.
“At the three hundred metre marker he changed legs and found another gear. He's the best horse I've ever ridden. He's really a super horse,” said Zuriman who is fortunate to have ridden a horse with this kind of ability so early in his career.
“He's improving all the time and that is impressive. He's won five times from seven starts and while I'm not sure yet, I might target him to the Magic Millions in Penang” said Leslie Khoo.
“I was told he was making a noise in the morning and so put the tongue tie on. He's very relaxed in the morning and in the race though so it doesn't seem to be a problem,” he ended.
Birthday Gift seems to be a horse that is likely to go on to bigger and better things with group races possibly in his destiny. He's blessed with early pace, quickens off it nicely and most importantly is a very well balanced horse. His pedigree is impressive too. He is a son of Black Minnaloushe, a Storm Cat stallion and is out of a Stark South mare. With this victory, Birthday Gift has taken his earnings in Singapore to over two hundred thousand Singapore dollars with a promise to add more to that account in the months to come.
