Trainer Shane Baertschiger joked that Elite Star was a “Brazilian-bred” after he again found his winning touch when reunited with two-time champion jockey Manoel Nunes on Sunday.
The Pins four-year-old is a notoriously difficult horse to ride even if he is blessed with an abundance of qualities. Two wins are there to prove it, one with Elione Chaves and the second one with Nunes, two Brazilian riders, who were essentially roped in for their natural horsemanship to school him to better ways.
After a small break, Baertschiger thought it would be timely to put his own jockeys (John Powell and Syafiq Hazman) back, but it would seem old habits die hard.
The Australian went the Brazilian way again, and picked Antonio da Silva at the gelding’s last start, which produced an encouraging second to Nova Swiss, before he again brought Nunes back in the saddle in the $60,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m, and it was right on the money this time.
The rough edges were still there, though. Midrace, Elite Star ($12) tried to sneak in along the rails when race-leader Quicksilver (Nooresh Juglall) rolled out, but for some reason, Nunes had to ease him back in second place before going around the same horse upon straightening.
The thinker in Elite Star came rearing its ugly head again, and this time, at a more crucial moment. For a few strides at the 300m pole, he looked like he could not switch into full gear, but once Nunes pushed the right buttons – and there are quite a few - the race was over in the twinkling of an eye.
Showing great focus, the strongly-built bay put in the big bounds to open up a commanding break before Mr Whitaker (Glen Boss) came whittling away at the margin late to run second another 1 ¼ lengths away. Lake Huka (Michael Rodd) ran third another neck away.
The winning time was 1min 12.36secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
“What can I say? This horse is a Brazilian,” said Baertschiger.
“But seriously, Manoel gets along very well with him. He jumped on him during the week and cantered him, but he could not gallop him on Wednesday, as there was a delay to the track.
“I think I will step him up to 1400m next. I’ll check what Manoel says about that.”
The two-time Singapore champion jockey would put both hands up for the ride, that’s what.
“Thank you to Shane and the owners for putting me back on this horse. He is still learning even though he’s had quite a few runs already, he’s still very green,” said Nunes.
“I jumped on him this week, and he felt a little bit better, but he still does a few things wrong. He wants to use both legs at the same time, he just has no idea how to use his legs!
“Once he improves mentally, he will be a much better horse next year. He has so much ability, but right now, he can’t seem to use his full powers.
“And for sure, he’ll be better over more ground as well, 1400m at least.”
That third win has now swollen Elite Star’s account to $160,000 for his owners, the Elite Star Stable.
