Two weeks after quinellaing with Smileswithhiseyes and Riedel, trainer Mark Walker found himself in the same good place when the very same pair fought out the finish in the Kranji Stakes C race on Sunday.
While Irish-bred Smileswithhiseyes (Manoel Nunes) nosed out his stablemate in a similar Kranji Stakes C race, but over 1700m race on May 9, the tables were turned over the shorter trip, with Riedel (Shafiq Rizuan) gaining the verdict by a neck.
Third another length away was Iluminado (Danny Beasley) who was caught in a three-way battle with the two Walkers at the 100m, but was outsprinted in the end.
If there was a different spin to the outcome this time, Walker was not on hand to lead in his 1-2 pair, unlike at their last run. The New Zealander is currently back home for a short break and will be heading to Australia to buy horses on Tuesday.
His wife Julia and stable supervisor Gus Clutterbuck were delighted with the way both runners had reproduced their last-start run to again hog the first two spots.
“They reversed the order this time round, but it didn’t really matter who won. There wasn’t much between the two,” said Julia.
“Mark is back home and will be going to the Gold Coast to have a look. We’re doing just fine here!”
Clutterbuck said both winner and runner-up have earned a break after their last efforts.
“They’ve both done a fair bit of racing and deserve a break now. We’ll freshen them up,” said Clutterbuck.
“They’ve both been consistent to us. They were coming back in trip, but the field was not very strong and they did a good job to finish 1-2.The winner is getting there.”
Shafiq was also pleased he has managed to exact revenge on his colleague Nunes, as both riders were also aboard at the two horses’ last encounter.
“I was following Manoel everywhere. He gave me a good cart into the race and I was able to get him this time,” said Shafiq.
The Brazilian was gracious in defeat, happy with the way Smileswithhiseyes even tried to raise another gallop inside the last 100m.
“I was following Danny’s (Beasley) horse everywhere and I thought he could win. After Riedel went past him, he kicked again, but Riedel was too good tonight.”
Such was the confidence in the Walker pair in the market that they were sent out as the two leading fancies and the punters were right on the money as Riedel started as the favourite at $18, just a shade shorter than Riedel’s quote of $19.
Riedel, a four-year-old by Saperavi, has now amassed more than $130,000 in prizemoney for the Te Akau Racing Stable from his three wins and three placings from 13 Kranji starts. He scored one win from five starts in New Zealand.
