The Bruce Marsh-trained City Of Sails scored an all-the-way win in the $65,000 Initiation race over 1000m on Friday night.
Named after Auckland, the "City Of Sails", the four-year-old gelding owned by Graham Mackie trialled in Malaysia before heading south. He returned as a roarer on his debut, finishing sixth behind My Lucky Strike in a similar race last month.
Taking the reins for the first time, apprentice jockey Zuriman Zulkifli put $71 City Of Sails right in front of the field of nine, while Scout Done (Oscar Chavez) and Muvuka (Soo Khoon Beng) followed behind.
City Of Sails persevered and was still in the lead upon straightening before sustaining a strong run to the line. But seconds before City Of Sails crossed the post, the Shane Baertschiger-trained Lign Em Up (Matthew Kellady) steamed home on the outside, but came up short by half-a-length. Full Meaning (Rueven Ravindra) was third another two lengths away.
The winning time on the Polytrack was 59.61 seconds.
Unlike at his last start when City Of Sails opted to settle in midfield, Marsh decided to go forward in Friday night’s race. The Kiwi trainer was, however, not keen on stepping him up in distance for now.
“There was not much speed in this race, so yes it was the plan to go forward," he said.
“He returned as a roarer the last time, and with that kind of condition, it wouldn’t suit to step him up in distance. But, hopefully, in the future.”
Zuriman, currently third on the jockey premiership on 26 wins (seven wins behind A’Isisuhairi Kasim) had been City Of Sails' pilot a few times during trackwork, but admitted that City Of Sails was not an easy horse to work with.
“He pretty much stayed one-paced, and he was keen during the race. If he goes up to 1200m, he might pull," said Zuriman.
“It’s probably good to keep him to this distance now, but I’m sure he will improve with more experience though.”
Purchased for NZ$50,000, City Of Sails is by Elusive City, the same sire as Mackie's star galloper Spalato, currently in Hong Kong to compete in the HK$15 million Group 1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on Sunday week.
