Trainer Michael Freedman had a sense of immense personal pride following the last-to-first victory of Tropaios in the Group 1 $1.35 million Longines Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m on Sunday.
Ridden by visiting Australian jockey Tommy Berry, Tropaios ($29) swept down the outside to score a half-length victory from Orakei Korako (Barend Vorster) with Dragonfly (Craig Newitt) a half-length away third.
Tropaios ran the 2200m journey in 2min 16.46secs, a little over two seconds outside of the course record on the long course.
Freedman has been associated with some of Australia’s best horses over the past 25 years, but said the victory of Tropaios was his greatest thrill in racing.
“I’ve been involved in some big wins back home, but this is my biggest thrill in racing,” said Freedman.
“To have trained the winner of Singapore’s richest domestic race in my own right is such a great feeling.
“I’ve been up here five-and-a-half years now and it’s been fantastic for not just me but also my family as well.
“It’s a huge honour to win the race in a place that we call home and will continue to do for a number of years still.
“There is such a lot of history around Singapore racing and to be a part of it by winning this race is such an honour.
“And to win it for the China Horse Club just adds to the achievement. They have a huge involvement in racing around the world and for them to make a huge commitment here and to win this race is certainly a feather in the cap.”
Musketeer (Glen Boss) and Littlebitofjoy (John Sundradas) came across from their middle of the line-up draws to take up the lead. Orakei Korako, Born To Fly (Lisa Allpress) and the $18 favourite Wild Geese (Manoel Nunes) were next in the running order.
The early pace had been a little frantic but once the early positions were sorted out the pace was backed off and the first 800m of the 2200m was run in 50.92secs.
Leaving the back straight Musketeer still held sway but Boss elected to move out from rail in search of better going. Littlebitofjoy and Born To Fly snuck up on his inside by the time the turn was reached.
Soon after straightening Orakei Korako hit the front and Vorster went for home. Dragonfly had snuck up on the fence and was issuing a challenge while Super Ninetyseven (Alan Munro, fourth) was also looming large under his 57kg.
Orakei Korako was fighting off the challenges, but in the end Tropaios had the last crack at that emerging four-year-old, nailing him in the final 20m.
“To be honest with you I was watching Super Ninetyseven as he was fighting it out for the finish,” said Freedman.
“It was only in the last 100m that I caught sight of Tropaios’ colours and realised that he was going on to win the race.
“It’s great for Tommy to win the race. He’s a world class rider and had a plan for the race before he went out.
“The plan worked perfectly and full marks must go to him.
“Super Ninetyseven ran a huge race. Through no fault of Alan’s he was three wide for the trip and under the circumstances he’s run a huge race with that weight.
“It all goes well for him as he’s still a four-year-old and can come back for the Emirates Singapore Derby next year.”
For Berry who is developing into one of Australia’s leading riders at the age of 22, said it was an unbelievable achievement to win such a big race.
In Singapore on a one-day licence, Berry has had a habit of landing the “big prize” at international meetings when visiting tracks for the first time.
Earlier this year he landed the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup aboard Military Attack in Hong Kong at his first day of riding at Sha Tin.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Berry. “I was able to achieve something similar six or seven months ago in Hong Kong.
“It’s great coming to new tracks, sitting aboard new horses and getting the job done and it’s a place (Singapore) that I would like to get back to in the future.
“I had a plan before the race and with the little bit of rain I thought that would be even better for him.
“But before the race I had a bit of a change of mind. I originally wanted to ride back and come up on the inside of them, but the fence was chopped up a bit so I decided to come out.
“At the top of the straight I thought he was going to win, but then he hit a bit of a flat spot half-way down the straight.
“Luckily he picked up again and we were able to get there in the end.”
A UK-bred four-year-old by Excellent Art from Light Quest, Tropaios has now won two of his eight starts in Singapore and taken his prizemoney to around $800,000 for China Horse Club.
Vorster was full of praise for Orakei Korako who was having just his eighth start on Sunday.
“It was a great run by him. Unfortunately we just got caught in the last bit,” said Vorster.
“In the last 100m, he started to look around and hang in a bit. It was a pity, to finish second again (Vorster lost aboard Super Kenny by a head in the preceding race).”
Trainer and jockey of Dragonfly – Leticia Dragon (trainer) and Newitt respectively – both said the gelding had run a huge race.
“It’s a fantastic result. I was hoping he would run in the Top 3 and to finish third a length behind the winner is not too bad at all,” said Dragon.
“Just to get there in the race after battling all sorts of issues was actually a win in itself. I knew he had a chance and he’s over-performed.
“He’ll be back next year, better and stronger.”
Newitt added: “He ran sensational. He gave me a great ride throughout and travelled really well, but he just started to feel the pinch in the last 200m.
“He still stuck on well. He’ll be a much better horse next year.”
Nunes, who rode the favourite Wild Geese, said he felt the four-year-old didn’t see out the 2200m journey.
“He was travelling in a good spot, following Orakei Korako throughout. He got a clear run in the home straight, but stopped in the last 200m,” said Nunes.
“It was still a good run, but I don’t think he could get the 2200m. He should probably drop back to 1800m to 2000m.”
