Singapore Racing - Weekend Review - 7th and 9th of July

A strong staying performance and a heady Manoel Nunes ride saw talented four-year-old Infantry land Sunday’s Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) at Kranji.

The son of Tavistock delivered a long-awaited derby success to trainer Alwin Tan, who had gone painfully close with War Affair two years ago, while it was a second win in the classic for Nunes.

The Derby was the first attempt at 2000m for Infantry but the gelding ran the trip out strongly, aided by a gun ride from Nunes who found a handy trailing position three pairs back on the fence in the run.

Travelling sweetly throughout, Infantry was eased into clear running by Nunes early in the straight and took over soon after, breaking clear and easily holding his rivals at bay to win the $1.15 million Group 1.

Lim's Samurai with William Pike aboard ran on well for second a length away with Nova Strike third.

Winner of the Moonbeam Vase in April, Infantry started joint seocnd favourite in the Derby on the back of placings in his lead up runs in the Stewards Cup and Patron’s Bowl.

The Derby was Infantry’s eighth win from 20 career runs and took his prizemoney to more than SGP$1.56 million.

Pike may have had to settle for second in the Derby but was one of three jockeys to ride a double on the program.

The Perth hoop’s winners were both for Laurie Laxon with Chairman in the Kranji Stakes (2000m) and the impressive Mr Crowe, who scored by 2.3 lengths in the class 3 over 1300m, his fifth win from 17 starts.

It was a good evening for Australian riders with Glen Boss and Danny Beasley also landing winning doubles.

Boss’ wins included the evening’s main support race, the Kranji Stakes A over 1600m, which saw a thrilling finish with less than a length separating the first five over the line.

Boss and Blue Swede did best after coming from a midfield position to hold off the fast finishing Perfect P by a nose.

Best Tothelign dug deep for third while favourite War Affair had to settle for fifth but only three-quarters of a length from the winner.

Friday’s Kranji card was highlighted by the Golden Horseshoe (1200m) for two-year-old s where Be Bee upstaged the favourites to win for John Powell and Shane Baertschiger.

The win maintained an unbeaten record for Be Bee, the Showcasing gelding having won on debut in a restricted maiden last month.

Be Bee took the rise in class in his stride and after settling just off the pace, unleashed a powerful sprint in the straight to draw away and score by 1.8 lengths over Charger and Bringer Of War.

The race proved a tough result for punters with the favoured runners Mr Hanks (10th), Ferocious (seventh) and Augustano (sixth) all out of the money.