Master trainer Patrick Shaw pulled off yet another training feat when he produced Quicksilver to score at his first run after a one-year absence on Friday night.
Put away after he last raced in October 2015 when fourth to Nova Warrior in a Class 4 race over 1100m, the South African-bred by Var was getting close to a return when another setback sent him back to the sidelines.
After a gallop a couple of months ago, he hurt his off-fore fetlock rather seriously and had to undergo surgery. But Shaw’s patience is one of his main strengths and it wasn’t long before Quicksilver was back on track once he recovered.
A winning barrier trial last week was a clear signal the Avengers Stable-owned gelding was ready to rumble, but first-up in a quality $60,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m made up of smart sorts like Mr Scorsese and Jupiter Gold (though they were also resuming but not after such a long spell) and drawing the second-worst alley had punters a little circumspect about a victorious comeback.
Their concerns proved unfounded.
After a smart jump, Quicksilver ($73) found the front quite easily for Nooresh Juglall to lead out from Lucky Mission (Olivier Placais) and $11 favourite Jupiter Gold (Alan Munro) while Mr Scorsese (Vlad Duric) was a lot closer than usual in fourth on the rails.
Juglall summed up the race to a nicety as he gave Quicksilver a breather midrace before again slipping some reins to detach himself from the chasing pack, who were already under pressure by the point of turn.
Quicksilver looked to have snookered his rivals when he scooted off to a two-length break, but Jupiter Gold still had a challenge up his sleeve as he motored home with a stinging run down the middle.
But it proved too little too late as Quicksilver kept working home solidly to fall in by half-a-length from a gallant Jupiter Gold with another gap of more than four lengths to the next one home, Lucky Mission.
Mr Scorsese could only settle for fourth place another half-a-length away, but he probably needed the run. The winning time was 1min 11.41secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
With Shaw still recuperating from his surgery, assistant-trainer Ricardo Le Grange was effusive in his thanksgiving speech at the winner’s circle, which he visited twice with Bach’s Air later in the night.
“First of all, I’d like to say a massive thank you to the owner Mark Yong as the horse has not had a run for a year,” said the South African horseman.
“Then I’m so rapt for the horse himself. We know he has a lot of ability, and a big thank you to (former Singapore Turf Club veterinary surgeon) Dr Curry Keoughan who did the surgery on him when his off-fore fetlock was sliced open after a gallop.
“Thanks also to the whole team of vets, and thank you to Nooresh for a great ride. He did the right thing by going clear in the early part and controlling the pace so well.
“I would also like to say well done to the Avontuur Estate and Pippa Mickleburgh. They stand Quicksilver's sire Var who has been such a great stallion.
“As for our second winner of the night (Bach’s Air), I have to say a big thanks to the farrier Gary as the horse had such bad feet.
“And last but not least, a special thought for Pat at home. It’ll take time, but he’s slowly getting better and it’s all good.”
Juglall was beaming after he weighed back in as he had always held Quicksilver in high esteem, and thought no other horse deserved an upturn in fortunes more than him.
“He’s a very nice horse, but he’s been very unlucky, especially every time we think he’s ready, something happens to him,” said the Mauritian jockey.
“I was the one who was riding him when he hurt his fetlock in a gallop. I couldn’t believe a horse could be so unlucky.
“But thank God, he’s turned it around and he’s come back in great shape. He won a barrier trial last week and I was confident he’d run well, though I thought it would be tough against such a strong field.
“The team had him spot-on. As he showed speed in the past, I just let him roll to the front and turning for home, I knew he would be hard to catch as I had so much horse underneath me.”
Quicksilver has now taken his record to two wins from seven starts for stakes earnings close to the $90,000 mark for his connections.
The win turned out to be the first leg of a winning treble for Juglall as he then steered even-money favourite Winning Star to victory in the $35,000 Class 5 Division 2 race over 1600m before capping the night with another win for Shaw, aboard odds-on favourite ($8) Bach’s Air in the penultimate race, the $60,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1200m.
