Emerging stayer Gilt Complex could not make the cut for the $1.35 million Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m), but made up for the disappointment in the ‘Consolation Stakes’, the $80,000 Helping Hand Stakes, a Kranji Stakes C race over the same Gold Cup distance on Sunday.
The Gold Centre five-year-old was along with Guru-Guru, Arhat and Keep Spinning (later withdrawn) entered for the glamour handicap race, but were in the end left out after the rating cut-off mark was set at 71 points.
No doubt, a Kranji Stakes C race is not in the same league, but the two Browns, trainer Cliff Brown and jockey Corey Brown, were above all delighted with the win, even if it was gained a little scrappily.
It could have indeed swung the other way with six horses spread across the track in a close contest, not to mention some squeezing when Ramzes (Derreck David) suddenly wobbled out of the race, causing Gilt Complex ($20) to be nearly put out of the race.
Knocked off balance, Brown was, however, not only able to adroitly stay in the saddle, but also regain his mount’s momentum to go and prevail from Gilt Complex’s stable companion and $16 favourite Magstock (Michael Rodd) by half-a-length.
Guru-Guru (Wong Chin Chuen) and Song To The Moon (Nooresh Juglall) also stormed home on the inside to make the issue more interesting, but had to settle for third and fourth place another short head and nose away respectively. The winning time was 2min 16.88secs for the 2200m on the Long Course.
Brown the trainer said he could not quite work out who of his two runners were going the better at the 300m, but was glad he got the verdict with one of them.
“I was just hoping one of them would win,” said the Australian handler.
“The winner had one run over 2200m under the belt (El Dorado Classic) and that definitely helped him today.
“Unfortunately, he was the best horse to come out of that race and deserved to win today. He’s a very decent horse.
“As for Magstock, he’s still a baby and the mile to 2200m suit him. He will win again.”
Brown the jockey was a little down after he was left without a ride in the Gold Cup when Gilt Complex was dropped, but was not one to sneeze at a “get-out” win either, especially after he nearly hit the deck.
“It was a bit of a tough slog in the last 300m and I nearly got knocked out of the saddle, but he fought back really well,” said Brown.
“He would have been a good lightweight chance in the Cup. I know he didn’t get in because of his low rating and he missed by three.
“It’s disappointing for the owners (Graham Mackie and Trish Dunell), but I guess it’s still a small prize to win, like a get-out win.
“The horse is a lovely stayer. I used to think he was a blinkers horse, but he relaxed better today.”
Gilt Complex has now taken his record to four wins and five placings from 16 starts for stakes earnings past the $230,000 mark for Mackie.
