Former South African galloper Lizarre continued his march towards the Longines Singapore Gold Cup by claiming a narrow victory in the $150,000 Mandai Classic Stakes over 2200m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Riding the pace throughout, Lizarre, ridden by Barend Vorster, outlasted a determined Honest Broker (Ronnie Stewart) to score by a short-head with Gordon Roberts (Benny Woodworth) a length away third.
The race was run in a leisurely 2 min 21.69 secs, almost seven seconds outside the course record on the long course.
Gordon Roberts held sway under a good hold on settling down over Lizarre and Honest Broker with Power Blitz (Saimee Jumaat) back in fourth place.
With the slow pace Hint (V Sivan) couldn't get in and was trapped three wide going down the back straight and the pace was slow.
The tempo increased marginally from the 700m when Sivan allowed Hint to roll further forward and by the time the turn was reached was in third place behind Gordon Roberts and Lizarre.
Joao Moreira, riding the $13 favourite Martial Art, had tacked on to the back of Hint and was about to unleash his run. Shortly after turning for home Vorster kicked for home on Lizarre and it was a this stage that Stewart on Honest Broker was having difficulty getting into the clear.
He eventually came across heels to the outside of Lizarre and dug deep in the final 200m to shorten the margin, but the post arrived too soon.
Gordon Roberts held on bravely for third just ahead of his more fancied stablemate Martial Art.
Trainer Patrick Shaw said Lizarre had been aimed at the Group 1 $1.35 million Longines Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m on November 13 right from day one after his arrival in Singapore in April.
Lizarre is likely to be one of three runners the Shaw stable will have in the Gold Cup – being joined by Maurice Utrillo and Paulinho – and at this stage is the pick of the South African conditioner's runners.
“I would say at this stage he would be my best chance but you can never underestimate Maurice Utrillo and Paulinho wasn't far away in weight-for-age grade last time and will get in on the minimum,” said Shaw.
“This horse (Lizarre) is coming right at the right time and I knew he would be well suited by the trip.
“When we first started working him I thought in July there would be a little doubt about getting him to the race.
“It's never easy jumping a horse from 1600m to 1700m and then to 2200m, but he's done it and done it well.
“He's still going to get quite a bit of improvement from this race. He needed the racing and at this distance to improve his stamina.
“I don't think the pace really suited him either.”
The much travelled five-year-old came to Shaw's hands after starting his career in South Africa before injuring himself in England en-route to Dubai.
Lizarre finished eighth in one of South Africa's premier races, the Vodacom Durban July over 2200m at Greyville in July last year.
“We haven't had a problem with him at all since he's been here,” said Shaw. “Touch wood he'll now progress to the Gold Cup.
Vorster said the ride on Lizarre was a good opportunity to ride the winner of Singapore's premier staying race.
“This horse came here with a nice reputation and is really starting to line up to it,” said Vorster.
“He's got a lot of class about him and stays very well. When the business end comes around he's a horse that keeps giving and giving.
“I would like to think that he will be my Gold Cup ride.”
A five-year-old by Jet Master from the Jallad mare Leading Dame, Lizarre has recorded two wins and two second placings from his four starts in Singapore and his victory on Sunday took his prizemoney past the $130,000 mark for the EMMA Stable.
Shaw and Vorster made it a running double when Valevole took out the $65,000 Novice Stakes over 1200m while the even-money favourite's win completed a treble for Vorster after an earlier victory aboard Zac Detonator in the $35,000 Class 5 Stakes over 2200m.
