Star galloper Super Easy equalled the unbeaten run of Better Than Ever when he took out a thrilling Group 3 $200,000 Jumbo Jet Trophy over 1400m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Ridden by Joao Moreira, Super Easy, the $7 favourite, scored a half-length victory over Captain Obvious (Oscar Chavez) with Gingerbread Man (Saimee Jumaat) three-and-three-quarter lengths back in third place.
Super Easy recorded a time of 1 min 22.41 secs for the 1400m on the yielding track.
The victory was Super Easy’s toughest test and the four-year-old had to call on all his renowned fight qualities to overhaul Captain Obvious in the straight.
In recording his 12th straight victory at Kranji, Super Easy equalled the unbeaten run of Better Than Ever who won his first 12 starts as a three and four-year-old before tasting defeat for the first time in the Longines Singapore Gold Cup in 2010.
Super Easy was one of the first to jump but Moreira allowed Captain Obvious and Ato (Barend Vorster) to go forward and lead the field at a solid tempo with Gingerbread Man and Flying Fulton (Jose Verenzuela) next in line.
The race changed little before the hometurn was reached but Moreira was starting to work on Super Easy to get a bit closer to the action.
Super Easy quickly drew level with Ato and then set out after Captain Obvious, last year’s Jumbo Jet victor, drawing to within a half-length by the 200m mark.
The entire looked all set to run past Captain Obvious but Steven Burridge’s courageous sprinter kept rallying and went down fighting, defeating their remaining nine rivals comfortably.
The first five horses around the turn filled the first five positions over the line with Ato tiring to finish fifth, just behind Flying Fulton.
Trainer Michael Freedman was relieved to have the unbeaten run still going after thinking Captain Obvious was going to deny Super Easy victory in the straight.
“I was a bit worried he wasn’t going to get Captain Obvious,” said Freedman. “I thought we were going to run second to a good, tough old sprinter.
“To be giving him three or four lengths start into the straight on a track that has been suiting leaders I thought was a very good effort and would be right up there with one of his best wins to date.
“We didn’t want to be getting into a speed battle with the two that we thought would lead and Joao had him nice a relaxed.
“It took all his ability to run him down today but the way he raced I think he’s going to enjoy the softer tempo of the mile.
“I thought one of his best wins was in the (Group 1) Singapore Guineas (in May) which was over the mile and the way he’s going now I think the mile is going to be ideal for him.
“He’s made that physical improvement from being a three-year-old to a four-year-old but it’s hard to say that a horse that has won 12 from 12 can still be improving, but I think he has made that further improvement and hopefully he comes out of this race in top order.
“He’s a once in a lifetime horse.”
Freedman said Super Easy would now be set for the Group 1 $500,000 Panasonic Kranji Mile over 1600m on October where he will be out to better Better Than Ever’s record of 12 consecutive wins.
Following the Kranji Mile it will be onto the Group 1 $500,000 Raffles Cup over 1800m on October 21 and then if his form warrants, and an invitation is forthcoming, a trip to Hong Kong in December for the Group 1 Hong Kong International Mile at Sha Tin.
Moreira was full of praise for the entire which raised the bar to new heights with his victory.
“It was probably his toughest test since he's raced in Singapore, but again he showed what a really good horse he is,” said Moreira.
“He put himself in a lovely position throughout the race, and in the straight he gave me such a strong kick. Captain Obvious, who is another very good horse, was so tough to get past, but my horse always wants to win and just knows where the winning post is.
“He deserves to get the prize and I'm just so glad to be the lucky jockey who gets to sit on top of him.”
Moreira has ridden Super Easy to all of his 12 wins in Singapore and believes the entire is capable of giving him a Group 1 victory on the international stage.
By Darci Brahma from the Gold Brose mare Parfore, Super Easy took his prizemoney to just shy of $1.4 million for owners Joy N Happiness Stable with his victory on Sunday.
