Favourite punters were dealt a blow when Asclepius finished out of the placings in the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1100m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The Mok Zhan Lun-trained galloper was sent out the $14 favourite but ruined his chances by hanging badly and giving jockey Stephen Baster a torrid ride.
The New Zealand-bred four-year-old jumped moderately from his inside draw and was hunted up to settle in fourth position but coming off the back he begun to hang badly, carting those to his outside off the track as well.
Asclepius eventually found himself the widest runner turning for home and while Baster worked hard on the gelding to produce his best in the straight the four-year-old could finish no better than seventh.
The race was taken out by Jet Ace, ridden by Tommy Chang, which scored by two-and-three-quarter lengths over Kaepeeyai (Subramaniam Anandan) with Good Boss (Troy See) a half-length away third.
Jet Ace worked his way to the front from an inside draw and when Asclepius hung badly it allowed the gelding to gain a break on his rivals.
Trainer Sam Chua has experienced plenty of headaches with Jet Ace who he describes as being “very green”.
“He needs plenty of racing to get him right,” said Chua. “He's still very green.
“He came up here as a two-year-old but he's still a big baby.
“He can gallop but he's not sure really what to do. He's got the ability and with more maturity he will develop into a good horse.”
Chua said the victory was a good result for Chang for all his hard work.
“Tommy has done a lot of the work with this horse and it is a good result for him.
“He is very hard working and rides a lot of work and has also been helping out in the stables as well.”
Jet Ace has been a consistent performer. After winning on debut, he has added a further three second placings to his record from eight career starts.
A New Zealand-bred by No Excuse Needed from the Stravinsky mare Wahaha and Sunday's victory to his prizemoney to just shy of $100,000 for Te Mania Stable.
