Broodmare Always Special is proving to be just that for trainer Shane Baertschiger and the Auric Stable.
Most Favorite, the Stravinsky’s mare’s fifth foal for the dynamic duo, made a smart winning debut in the $85,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1100m on Sunday.
Before Most Favorite, Just Nini, Simple Pleasures, Jelly Bean and Creamy Custard were older siblings rolled out from Auric’s Jerry Sung’s breeding barn and they have all won at least once at Kranji, with Most Favorite’s full-brother Simple Pleasures (both by O’Reilly) even singled out by Baertschiger as “the best horse” he has ever trained.
“Simple Pleasures was the best horse I even trained. Unfortunately, he was a bleeder and he only had a short career here (two wins from six starts),” said the Australian trainer.
“He was beaten a short head by Stepitup in the first Leg of the 3YO series (Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint in 2013). Jelly Bean is also a good mare, and they have all been bred by Jerry.
“Always Special has been a good broodmare for Jerry. She is getting on now, she’s 20yo I think and may have a rest and come back next year.”
Breeding trivia aside, Baertschiger is hoping good genes won’t lie again and Most Favorite will turn out just as good as Simple Pleasures, if not even better.
“He was a bit of a handful when he came to us. Matty (Kellady) has done all the work on him, and he’s done a good job on him,” said Baertschiger.
“From Day 1, he showed a lot and he won very well today. He can only improve as he gets more racing experience.”
After a clean jump from barrier No 7, Most Favorite, a trial winner in both New Zealand and Singapore, made full use of his early toe to tuck in behind joint leaders Wild Bee (Ng Choon Kiat) and Amanzoe (Vlad Duric), with Kellady obviously just waiting for the run to the judge to test his mount.
For a second, it looked like Most Favorite might have his job cut out when Wild Bee broke clear on the rails, but once Kellady got to work, the margin started to dwindle with every stride. As the new Auric ward drew on level terms with Wild Bee, the issue was soon put beyond doubt as Most Favourite went on to score by three parts of a length.
Big roughie ($258) Imperium (Shafrizal Saleh) came from near last to snatch third place from Hun Yeang Road (Azhar Ismail) another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 6.79secs for the 1100m on Polytrack.
Kellady, who opened his 2018 account with Mr Dujardin for Lee Freedman last Sunday, was bringing up his first winner for Baertschiger, the Ipoh-born jockey’s main supporter at Kranji ever since he called Singapore home.
“This horse has shown ability in trackwork and it’s good that he brought that form to the races today,” said Kellady.
“The plan was to go forward or sit second, but when the pressure came on the outside, I was happy to just come back a little.
“At the top of the straight, I pulled him out and he did the rest. The leader did look like he would be a little harder to pull back but my horse was just too good once I went for him.
“He will keep on improving. He has breeding on his side and he will get better over more ground.”
