Jockey Michael Rodd brought his rich vein of form from Friday night into Sunday when he scored aboard Valbuena for a fifth successive win.
The Australian rider left the course having grabbed the riding honours two days ago with a perfect four-from-four, only to return with the same hunger at his very first ride on Sunday, coincidentally for Laurie Laxon, who supplied him with the two bookends of his four winners, Cuaron and Mr Whitaker.
Rodd actually thought his winning streak would end with the Laxon-trained five-year-old by Darci Brahma, a Group 2 winner of the Avondale Guineas (2100m) back in New Zealand, pre-import, but who had flattered to deceive in 11 starts at Kranji.
Not that Rodd doubted his ability. It was just that the Sir Peter Vela and Silver Fern Racing Stable-owned galloper was not quite right 100% mentally.
But a last-start closing fifth with Rodd partnering him for the first time did suggest the pair had clicked and there could be a race for them soon – and the $80,000 Gingerbread Man 2012 Stakes (2000m) proved to be the one.
Settling Valbuena in the rear bunch one-off the rails, Rodd waited for the last 800m to pop the question, which saw the pair rapidly improving three deep to be within striking distance at the top of the straight.
Valbuena gave the impression he would score easily as he drew on level terms with Mighty Warrior (Corey Brown), but the Michael Freedman-trained galloper proved hard to outbattle as the pair went hammer and tongs in the last furlong to cross the line locked together.
The photo print, however, showed Valbuena, on the outside, had managed to score by the barest of margins from Mighty Warrior. OM (Zawari Razali) plugged on solidly for third on the rails, another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 2min 4.17secs.
“I thought the good run would stop, but this horse did a good job to get up,” said Rodd as he dismounted from stall No 1 for the fifth consecutive time.
“He’s a funny sort of horse. He has lots of ability but he’s just quirky.
“I’ve ridden him a lot in trackwork just to teach him to settle. I think he needs blinkers.
“When he took half-a-length on Corey’s horse, I put the stick away, but then, he started to stargaze around, and I had to really keep him on the job all the way to the line.”
Laxon and his assistant-trainer Shane Ellis said the penny was finally dropping for a horse Laxon and his good mate Vela had high hopes for from Day 1. Valbuena was overall disappointing, but still ran in the Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) last year, though he finished out of the placings.
“He’s had a few problems since he came. Before his first start, he actually fractured his hip in a barrier trial and he took a bit of time to get back,” said Ellis.
“We gave him a good spell and he’s come back all good. His hip problem is all clear now.”
Laxon said he never lost faith in Valbuena even if it has been a long journey to get him back to the winner’s circle.
“We knew he had ability. He was a Group 2 winner over 2100m in New Zealand,” said the Kiwi mentor.
“I think he needs a set of blinkers as he still seems to lose his focus once he hits the front.
“It’s good to see these Melbourne Cup-winning colours (Ethereal in 2001) score here, and he was ridden by a Melbourne Cup-winning jockey (Efficient in 2007).”
