A clever gang-tackling ploy devised by trainer Hideyuki Takaoka saw him saddle the consistent Fujin Bright to his fourth win in a row on Friday night.
With half of the six-horse field in the $75,000 Kranji Stakes C (2000m) running for him, the wily Japanese handler was evens to visit the winner’s box, although trainer Cliff Brown’s Singapore Derby hopeful Wall Street Boy was heralded as the horse to beat by all and sundry.
After being ridden cold at the back, the big chestnut came all guns blazing for John Powell at the 300m, but Fujin Bright (Alan Munro) who had dictated terms from the word go, hung on for dear life to prevail by a head.
Flying Tempo (Ivaldo Santana) who together with stablemate Tangible Assets (Danny Beasley) ran in tight formation in second and third respectively, “landlocking” Fujin Bright upfront, fought on well at the business end to run third another 1 ½ lengths away while Tangible Assets was the only Takaoka who blew up to run last.
The winning time was 2min 4.81secs.
Many punters may have been sent crashing after even-money favourite Wall Street Boy came up short, but Derby (run on July 13) hopes were still alive, if not fuelled further, in the Brown camp, but Takaoka was himself talking up his four-time winner in terms of greater heights.
“I think he can go for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup,” said Takaoka who landed the Group 2 event over 2000m with super mare Better Life last year.
“I left it to Alan to decide how to ride him as he knows him so well. But I did tell him to try and go forward if he can because the horse had 58kgs on his back.
"He jumped quite fast tonight and once he was able to lead, the rest was up to Alan.”
Fujin Bright has been partnered to all his four wins by the English jockey, who rides the bulk of Takaoka's horses, and has now amassed close to $170,000 in stakes money for the Brighton Stable.
“We took advantage of his speed and led tonight. He can go forward and he showed he was a very manageable horse,” said Munro.
"He was a little keen obviously, just wanted to go quicker in the middle stages, but he was okay.
“He gave me a kick coming off the back. The Short Course on the D course worked in his favour and we could get a sprint on.
“He showed a big heart at the finish.”
