Progressive sprinter Distinctive Darci came with a determined finishing burst to score a hard-earned win in the Korea Racing Authority Trophy (1200m) at Kranji on Sunday.
It was Distinctive Darci’s second win from as many starts this campaign and his sixth overall from just 12 career runs.
Coming off a dominant first up win in a class 3, the punters put their faith in the Darci Brahma three-year-old and sent him out as the favourite despite a step up in class but there were some nervous moments early when jockey Vlad Duric settled him in the second half of the field.The gelding had plenty of work to do on straightening but pulled wider on the track he wound up strongly and made a sustained run to find the front.
Distinctive Darci then came under challenge from a closing Laser Storm but dug deep to win by a half length for trainer Mark Walker.Daniel was a further 1.8 lengths back in third place.
Duric made it back to back wins when Splinter powered away from his rivals to win the class 4 over 1100m.
Settling worse than midfield, Splinter began to work forward rounding the bend and quickly took over before drawing away to score by 3.5 lengths for trainer Bruce Marsh.It was a deserving victory for Splinter having finished runner up at three of his five previous runs this campaign.
Manoel Nunes also chalked up a winning double with Constant Justice in the class 3 over 1200m and Lim’s Shot in the class 4 over 1200m while trainer Desmond Koh also celebrated two winners with Sun Empire and Columbus.Mr Luck got the better of Red Dawn in a thrilling finish to the class 3 over 1200m at Kranji’s Friday program.
In what proved a drive to the line, Mr Luck and Red Dawn were head and head for much of the straight but apprentice Wong Chuen was able to get everything out Mr Luck to win by a nose for trainer Desmond Koh.It was Mr Luck’s fifth win from 17 starts and formed part of a winning double for Wong, who got the best of another close finish to see Black Mamba a narrow winner in the class 4 over 1000m.
Black Mamba was part of a winning double for trainer Leticia Dragon, who also scored with Swift in the opening event while Steven Burridge also found the winner’s stall twice including a quinella in the class 4 over 1400m with Mark Eclipse and Brother Wing and also scoring with the progressive Eclipse Splash.He was one of the more impressive winners on the program, scoring by 3.5 lengths to make it three wins from just five starts and he looks capable of working through his grades.
