Back-in-form Bayu sprang a mini upset in Sunday’s $60,000 Class 4 Premier race over 1400m when he bounced back to the winner’s circle almost one year later.
The Stephen Gray-trained galloper has not scored since his maiden win in an Initiation race over 1200m on February 24, 2017. He was to race only once before he was sidelined for eight months due to some feet problems.
Bayu, who races in the same orange jersey as Singapore Gold Cup as Bahana, did not set pulses racing in three runs this prep, but suddenly regained his winning flair on Sunday.
Settled at the rear for Vlad Duric, Bayu gradually worked his way into contention to unleash a brilliant turn of foot inside the last furlong.
Stablemate and $16 favourite Mr Mosa (Amirul Ismadi) was the more likely to add a win to the Gray household as he snuck up along the rails to overpower race-leader Reine Dasher (Simon Kok Wei Hoong), but he had not reckoned with Bayu’s superior finish.
The Per Incanto five-year-old won by half-a-length from Mr Mosa with Reine Dasher fighting on gamely for third place another short head away. The winning time was 1min 22.65secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
“He had some feet issues last year and that’s why he’s lightly-raced. It’s taken four months for him to get over it,” Gray explained.
“It’s also taken a couple of runs for him to come right. He was a bit disappointing at his last start.
“But he was given a gun ride by Vlad over 1400m today, and he got the win. I think he is ready to go further now.”
Duric said the horse did not give him any good vibes during the week, but was a different proposition on raceday.
“He was very laid-back when I worked him, but today, I just rode him where he was comfortable,” said the current leading jockey.
“I just let him find his rhythm and he kept finding the line very well.”
With that second win from nine starts, Bayu has now taken his stakes earnings around the $90,000 mark for the Kiwi’s & Dago Stable.
