Seven-time Premiership winning trainer Laurie Laxon got a special kick out of winning with Profound at the New Year’s Day meeting on Tuesday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
He didn’t realise the name of the race until looking at his race-card in the lead-up to the race and noticed it was named after him.
Profound made it two wins in a row when taking out the $55,000 Laurie Laxon Class 4 Stakes over 1600m on the Polytrack.
Ridden by Benny Woodworth, Profound fought gamely to score by a nose from Guided Light (Greg Cheyne) with Predictable (Oscar Chavez) a neck away third.
Laxon snatched a last-race win to claim his seventh Trainer’s Premiership in the final event of 2012, denying Michael Freedman a first title.
Tuesday’s meeting saw Laxon with a light muster of runners after he loaded the “gun with plenty of bullets” for the final meetings of the 2012 season.
“I got quite a surprise to see the race named after me when I opened the racebook,” said Laxon.
“It’s good to get off the mark early in the season, but I’ve only got another couple of runners for the day.
“We’ve only got a light lot today. The gun had almost run out of bullets after we loaded up late last year, but they’ll be back in the coming weeks.”
After breaking his maiden status with victory at the second last meeting of 2012 – December 14 – Profound backed-up that win with success in Class 4 company on Tuesday.
“It’s never that easy for a horse to jump from maiden company to a Class 4 and go on to win,” said Laxon.
“He showed a lot of heart today. I think he got headed in the straight but he fought back well.
“He looks like he should have a few more wins in him judging on that effort.”
Woodworth said Profound, who had been racing on the speed throughout, had been headed in the straight.
“He was headed in the straight but he fought back really well,” said Woodworth. “He showed a lot of fight and there could be more wins in store.”
A four-year-old New Zealand-bred by O’Reilly from the Bahhare mare La Scala, Profound has now had 13 starts for owners Champagne Racing and has accumulated almost $80,000 in prizemoney.
