The well-backed Itiswhatitis emerged the winner in the $55,000 Class 4 race over 1600m on Sunday, but the race was however marred by the fall of three jockeys midrace, but luckily none of them suffered serious injuries.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The incident happened around the 500m mark as the field was negotiating the last bend when High Fly Marco, who was in fifth spot, stumbled and fell, dislodging apprentice jockey Zawari Razali.
Predictable, who was following right behind could not avoid the fallen horse, causing his rider Oscar Chavez to also lose his balance and fall heavily. Ace Alphabet, who was more towards the rear, was the last horse to cop the backwash, with Richard Lim also taking a tumble.
Zawari was later diagnosed with a suspected dislocated left shoulder blade while Chavez was complaining of a sore neck and Lim was the luckiest of the trio as he came out unscathed.
The beginning of the race itself had Kranji spectators holding their breath when apprentice jockey Mohd Alif found himself in a precarious position after his saddle slipped forward aboard Rapid Rewards, who was bustled up early from his wide draw to sit outside leader Bay Of Island (Alan Munro).
Just when Alif somehow managed to stay on board down the backstraight, the three-horse spill occurred, sending a chill down everybody’s spine, but the eventual winner, $11 favourite Itiswhatitis (Manoel Nunes), totally unaware of the drama that had unfolded behind, took full advantage of a golden run on the rails to score a three-quarter-length win from Takis (Ivaldo Santana).
Victory Wings (Joao Moreira) ran on late for third another 1 ¾ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 40.22secs.
The win continues the purple patch jockey Manoel Nunes has enjoyed since he rode his first winner (Super Lucky) on January 4.
“The beautiful run continues. I’m getting on good horses and that helps,” said the Brazilian six-time Macau champion jockey who was already recording his seventh win at Kranji.
“This horse (Itiswhatitis) is quite a difficult horse to ride as I had to make him change his legs a few times before he got going.
“But after that he gave me quite a comfortable ride throughout and was pretty relaxed. In the straight, he just kept going for a beautiful win.”
Trainer Tan Hor Khoon’s assistant-trainer Desmond Gan said the son of Danzero’s fourth success was widely expected, although marble one was not ideal.
“Though he’s won from barrier No 1 before, he’s a horse that prefers to come on the outside,” said Gan.
“But he was on his correct distance today and from his last two starts, we knew he would have a leading chance today.”
Itiswhatitis has now brought his earnings past the $160,000 mark for the Australasian Racing & Tony Stable.
