Trainer Patrick Shaw looks to have a promising stayer on his hands following the victory of Super Victory in the $65,000 Anza Action Stakes over 1600m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Ridden by John Powell, Super Victory, the $11 equal favourite, outstayed his rivals to score a half-length victory from the other $11 equal favourite Super Shadow (Danny Beasley) with Victory Wings (S H Lee) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Powell tracked the two leaders in Super Shadow and American Vision (Davy Bonilla) until the hometurn before switching to the outside.
The race developed into a sprint over the final 600m of the race. Super Shadow sat to the inside of American Gladiator in the early stages before taking the lead just before straightening.
The Michael Freedman-trained galloper looked likely to hold off his rivals, but over the final 100m Super Victory he proved the better stayer.
Powell said Super Victory was not a sit and sprint type and that was why he wanted to get some pace into the race early.
“He’s more of a grinder,” said Powell. “He’s not a sit and sprint type.
“He’s better off when he’s allowed to set his own pace and then quicken up when he wants.
“That’s why we had to get going early on him today. He fought on really well all the way up the straight and really it was a very good job to win.”
Shaw was missing in action on Sunday afternoon and assistant trainer Ricardo Le Grange praised the winning ride of Powell.
“It was a good ride, he really rode it a treat,” said Le Grange.
“He was coming off a freshen up today but it was a good tough win. I think being fresh really helped him but he’s also a horse that will appreciate getting over some more ground.”
Super Victory broke his maiden status with victory over 1600m on October 26 before a freshen up.
A four-year-old New Zealand-bred by O’Reilly from the Straight Strike mare Riposte, Super Victory has now won two of his six career starts and has taken his prizemoney to almost $100,000 for the Rafflesmen Stable.
Powell later a completed a treble for the afternoon guiding the Shane Baertschiger pair of True North to victory in the $55,000 Class Div. 1 Stakes over 1200m and Falling in the $35,000 Open Benchmark 53 Stakes over 1700m.
