Trainer Bruce Marsh provided the quinella in the $125,000 Given Vision 2009 Stakes over 1200m on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
But it was the return effort of the runner-up Gingerbread Man that had Marsh especially excited.
Jockey Ivaldo Santana landed a double for the evening when he guided Hammer Down to a three-quarter length victory over Gingerbread Man (Opie Bosson) with Mr Timely (Steven baster) six-and-three-quarter lengths back in third place.
Marsh almost trained the trifecta when the early leader Palombaro (Subramaniam Anandan) finished in fourth place.
“I wasn't concerned about getting the trifecta,” said Marsh. “I was more concerned with how Gingerbread Man was going.
“I thought it was a terrific effort. He looked to be travelling well, got the run at the right time and I thought he was going to win.
“But in the end the difference in the weight told.
“He's going to get a lot of benefit from the outing but at the same time I couldn't have asked of anymore from him.”
Gingerbread Man was having his first run back from a failed trip to Dubai where he didn't settle in when stabled on his own.
Bosson described the effort as “terrific” and like Marsh said there would be a lot of benefit to come from the outing.
“We had a nice run through the race and got into the clear at the right time,” said Bosson. “Unfortunately he just knocked up a bit late with the weight.
“He's going to get a lot of improvement out of the run and next time he lines-up he'll be meeting them all at set-weights.”
Marsh indicated that Gingerbread Man and the winner Hammer Down would progress to the Group 2 Stewards' Cup over 1400m on June 3, the first leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge.
The Challenge then progresses to the Group 1 Patron's Bowl over 1600m on June 24 before winding up with the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby over 2000m on July 15.
“They'll both be heading to the first leg of the series,” said Marsh. “After that we'll see where we go.
“I don't know whether Hammer Down will get 1600m of the second leg, but Gingerbread Man is heading that way.
“I thought Hammer Down had a chance tonight off the lightweight. He's a smart horse and with the light weight tonight he put it all together and ended up winning with well.”
Hammer Down landed his second win from 10 starts since his arrival in Singapore.
A four-year-old by O'Reilly from the Prized mare Our Prized Rose, Hammer Down took his prizemoney to around $150,000 for the Tudor Lodge Racing Stable with his success on Friday night.
