The recent hints that smart sprinter Nova Swiss could be back to his very best could not have rung with a more resounding bang on Friday night when he landed the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1000m in record-breaking time.
A winner of five-in-a-row at his first five runs, the Swiss Ace four-year-old has been on a gradual downward spiral since, but his last-start second to Countofmontecristo in a Benchmark 97 race over 1200m followed by a stellar three-length barrier trial win last Thursday have been good omens the old spark might be smouldering again.
And how Nova Swiss rose back to prominence following a peach of a ride from the jockey who knows him best, Manoel Nunes.
Settling in an one-off berth outside noted frontrunner Sebas (Vlad Duric), Nova Swiss, who had ditched the winkers for the blinkers again, was always travelling like a winner from the get-go.Once Nunes gave the $13 favourite his head shortly after straightening, that signature fighting spirit was clearly back in the house as he lowered himself to attack the line in the last 300m to the wire, pulling away to leave his rivals in the dust.
Distinctive Darci (Shafiq Rizuan) let down late but could only collect second prize two and a half lengths astern. Old stalwart Spanish Bay (Nooresh Juglall) gave his admirers a glimpse of his heyday with a late run that saw him miss the runner-up spot by a short head.
Tan could not conceal his sheer delight after one of his favourite horses finally showed that his loss of form was only temporary.
“After his trial, I expected him to be back to his best and he didn’t disappoint, but I didn’t expect he would break the record tonight!” said the reigning Singapore champion trainer.
“Manoel gave us the feedback about his hoof and we were able to fix it (stone bruise). Thanks to the farrier for the great job he has done on him.
“It’s hard to find a race for him. I will have to check the programme but it will have to be a 1100m or 1200m race on Polytrack.
“Next year, we will set him for races like the Merlion Trophy.”
It is precisely last year’s renewal of the Group 2 race over 1200m that Tan tagged as the tipping point to the Nova Racing Stable star decline.
“It’s after the Merlion Trophy when he ran second to Infantry that he lost his form,” he said.
“This horse has always had ability and we had to be patient with him. We gave him a spell and he has slowly come back to his best.
“I think the blinkers helped him as well tonight. He was relaxed and at the 600m when I saw him travelling so well, I knew he would be hard to beat.”
Nunes was even more complimentary in his assessment, hinting strongly he was already home and dry after he jumped off his barrier trial on October 12.
“I was all smiles after the barrier trial. I know this horse well and I knew he was back,” said the Brazilian rider.
“He had issues after the Merlion Trophy and Alwin and the boys have done a good job to bring him back to his best.
“I know he’s a horse who will return to his best if you can fix his problems and he’s shown it tonight.
“I think 1000m is a bit sharp for him now. 1200m is better – and no more winkers for him.”
With that sixth win from 12 starts, Nova Swiss has now seen his stakes earnings bulge closer to the $370,000 mark for the Nova Racing Stable.
