Trainer Theo Kieser has been labeled the “King of the Kids” and he lived up to that reputation by preparing the trifecta in the first two-year-old race of the season, the $90,000 Magic Millions Rocket Man Stakes over 1000m on the Polytrack on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Kieser had in previous seasons won the first two-year-old event of the season with Kaiser and Griffin which were both raced in the same interests as Friday night’s victor.
Ridden by Soo Khoon Beng, Rappor ($40) scored by a length-and-a-half from Black Fiery (Barend Vorster) with Mexborough Boy (Danny Beasley) a length away third.
Rappor covered the 1000m journey in 59.65 secs.
The victory of Rappor was also Kieser’s first for the 2013 season as he goes about rebuilding his team with a number of two-year-olds on his books.
The Mark Walker-trained pair of Dr Octopus (Joao Moreira) and Q Nine Star (Manoel Nunes) battled for the early lead with Rappor and Easy Money (Sam Subien) stalking them.
Soon after turning for home Soo sent Rappor up to challenge for the lead and quickly got the upperhand from the Walker pair while Black Fiery and Mexborough Boy both ran on from the tail of the field.
Kieser said before the race that it was going to be how the two-year-olds handled the occasion that would help determine the result of the race.
“I said before the race that with my three runners it was dependent on how they handled the lights, the noise from the crowd and the parade ring,” said Kieser.
“This horse was more mentally relaxed for the occasion. He is very laid back and his temperament came through.
“The other two got more worked up and that probably didn’t help their chances but the winner is quite lazy so I was not surprised by the way he went about his work tonight.”
Kieser purchased Rappor at the Magic Millions June National Sale as a yearling for A$45,000 and the gelding arrived in Singapore at the end of October.
“Both first and second were purchased out of the Magic Millions Sales and both were educated and did some early work at Oakwood Farm,” said Kieser.
“It’s the same farm as where Pitstop was educated and he won the Aushorse Golden Horseshoe last year.”
Rappor also picked up a $30,000 bonus for his success as he was sired in Australia and purchased through Magic Millions.
Soo elected to ride Rappor as he has had a good association with the owners over a long period.
“I had the choice of all three but I chose this horse,” said Soo. “I thought he is a nice horse and I have had some good luck with the owners.
“I knew he was a very lazy horse from the barrier trials. I had to push him all out right from the start.
“I told Theo I didn’t think he was ready for this race, but obviously he knew what he was doing and he has proven once again he’s so good with two-year-olds.
“At the top of the straight, he hung out so bad and that made me slow down a lot, but the he kicked again, and that’s when I knew he would win.”
