Leading trainer Alwin Tan paid the unbeaten Nova Swiss the supreme compliment by calling him the best sprinter in his yard after his third win from as many starts on Friday night.
The Swiss Ace three-year-old has been a revelation from Day 1, slaying his rivals at all his races, and was again particularly ruthless in the way he spread-eagled them in the $80,000 Class 3 race over 1000m on Polytrack.
If there were any concerns about his early spot three wide facing the breeze, they were quickly allayed when regular partner Manoel Nunes opened up the reins at the top of the straight.
Super Six (Troy See) and Gato Negro (Oscar Chavez), the two runners who kept him out in the initial stages of the race, were heeled along as Tan’s galloping machine levelled up, but were quickly gathered in.
The well-tried Mr Luck (Benny Woodworth) and Super Line (Vlad Duric) momentarily loomed up, but Nova Swiss was already off and gone. It was the surprising Ghost, who in true Halloween spirit, flashed late between runners to finish second another 3 ¼ lengths away, beating Super Six in third place by half-a-length.
Paying a hot $8 for a win, Nova Swiss clocked a sizzling 58.38 seconds for the 1000m, which speaks volumes about his potential going forward.
As much as the Nova Racing Stable’s new sensation seems destined for bigger and better things, Tan was still trying to keep a lid on any lofty plans, though he sounded like he already had a rough idea what would be on his plate next year.
“He’s the best sprinter in my stable right now. He won a very impressive race tonight,” said Tan.
“In the straight, he just pulled away from the rest. I think he may get a few points from the handicapper after that, he’s already got 16 points in two runs.
“There is still a race he can run in on the last meeting of the year (December 4), a Kranji Stakes C race over 1000m, but I’ll have to see how he pulls up first.
“Or else, he will come back next year, and a race like the Merlion Trophy would be ideal for him. The Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge would also be a possibility, but he needs to run over turf first, and I’ll have to discuss with the owners about that.”
The Group 2 Merlion Trophy (1200m) is the first Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series and is a race Tan has a good record in, having won it three times in a row between 2013 and 2015 (Speedy Cat and El Padrino twice).
Nunes for one is for sure hoping to stay in the saddle wherever Nova Swiss is pointed at.
“I’ve always told Alwin that this horse will be better next year, but each time, he comes out and wins like that,” said the Brazilian jockey.
“He’s a horse we have high expectations from, even if he is not fully mature yet. He’s still confused and lost when he runs, but when he accelerates, he just keeps going.
“I was not worried he was three wide the whole way as I always had plenty of horse under me. Troy See was looking for me as he moved off the rails, but my horse was too good.
“When you ask him, he always gives you something.”
With that faultless record of three from three, Nova Swiss has now racked up more than $110,000 in stakes earnings for his owners.
