A rails hugging ride by Barend Vorster paved the way to victory for Trudeau in the $75,000 RDA 30th Anniversary Cup over 1200m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Punted down to $17 at the off, Trudeau scored by a length-and-three-quarters from Indicio(Wong Wei Xiang) with Seligi (Tengku Rehaizat) a head away third.
The victory completed a double for trainer Bruce Marsh who won the opening race with Play On.
Trudeau was having his second outing after undergoing the most unkindest cut of all – being gelded.
The five-year-old was gelded after finishing tenth back in July and returned to racing with a fifth placing behind Awakened in a Class 3 Stakes over 1200m on November 11.
Marsh said the decision to geld Trudeau was to primarily extend his racing career.
“He has always been an honest horse and he didn’t have any malice in him at all,” said Marsh.
“He had had his chance as a colt so we decided to geld him and hopefully get a few more years racing out of him that way.”
Vorster had Trudeau positioned in third place on settling down behind the speed that was set by Zenidekka (Mohd Zaki) and the well supported favourite Sacred Pins (Danny Beasley).
Vorster said Trudeau came off the bridle with 600m to run as he could see the two leaders wanting to get off the fence.
He took full advantage of the run on the rails to drive Trudeau through before going on to register a comfortable victory.
“The pace was beautiful for him early,” said Vorster.
“I could see the inside wanting to lug out so I made the decision to take advantage of it when we came around the turn.
“He quickened up really well and was strong all the way to the line in what was a good strong win.”
A five-year-old Australian bred by Exceed And Excel from the Kris mare Canadian Legacy, Trudeau has now won three of his 17 starts in Singapore with a further seven minor placings and around $170,000 in prizemoney for Arexevan Racing.
Vorster made it a race-to-race double when he captured the $55,000 Nippon Paint Stakes over 1000m aboard the Patrick Shaw-trained Irish Lightning.
The victory of Irish Lightning was Vorster’s 61st of the season placing him just two wins behind third placed Danny Beasley in the Jockey’s Premiership.
Irish Lightning’s victory was also the second leg of a double for Patrick Shaw who earlier won with Super Victory.
