Honest galloper Sichuan Ruler made it back-to-back victories when he took out the $95,000 Benchmark 83 Stakes over 1200m on the Polytrack on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Ridden by a refreshed John Powell, Sichuan Ruler showed a lot of fight to record a short-head victory over Cavallo (Joao Moreira) with Davide (Barend Vorster) four lengths away third.
Sichuan Ruler’s victory denied Moreira his 100th victory for the season after it looked like the well-supported favourite would provide the three-time champion jockey with his fourth straight century of winners.
Powell jumped Sichuan Ruler smartly from the barriers and the gelding was able to cross to the front where he led from Davide (Barend Vorster) and Cavallo, who was three wide, outside of Hammer Down (Corey Brown).
Turning for home Powell slipped Sichuan Ruler some more rein and he opened up a slight break on his rivals but Cavallo was quickly out of the pack and chasing down the lead.
Cavallo loomed up to Sichuan Ruler at the 200m and looked all set to run past the victor, but Powell extracted the best from the winner and was able to get the bob in on the line.
“Joao headed me with 150m to run but he did go clear of me,” said Powell. “My horse dug really deep and on the line got his head down.
“It was a good tough win by a good honest horse.”
Powell who has just started a new diet said he felt a “million dollars” after the win of Sichuan Ruler.
“I’m the same weight tonight as I was the other week when I was dehydrated and felt terrible,” said Powell.
“I feel great tonight and have more strength and the way I’m going I’ll be able to get down to the lightest weight I’ve ridden at for a long time.”
Trainer Shane Baertschiger said he wished he had a stable full of horses like Sichuan Ruler although he admitted to some concerns prior to the race.
“He’s an honest horse but I was worried about him being up in this class,” said Baertschiger.
“It wasn’t an overly strong Class 3 race that he won on (Singapore Airlines International) Cup night and he was up in class here but he’s good on both the Polytrack and the turf.
“It was good for Johnny to get a win. He rated him beautifully in front and that will do his confidence the world of good.”
Sichuan Ruler, an Australian-bred five-year-old by Jet Spur from Elegant Emerald, landed his sixth win from 22 starts. With a further 10 minor placings to his credit, Sichuan Ruler has accumulated more than $300,000 in prizemoney for the R & W Stable following Friday night’s success.
