A change in riding tactics paid off handsomely when Warspirit returned to winning form in the $55,000 Open Benchmark 67 Stakes at Kranji Sunday
Ridden by apprentice Jimmy Kek, Warspirit rode the speed throughout in scoring by three-quarters-of-a-length from Smart Samurai (Shafiq Rizuan) with Jet Man (A’Isisuhairi ‘Harry’ Kasim) two-and-a-half lengths away in third place.
A relative newcomer to trainer Alwin Tan’s stable, Warspirit had been ridden from off the pace in his three previous starts, which included a last start last placing under Kek on November 22 when in a Class 3 contest over 1200m, but on Sunday he was up in the firing line throughout.
Southern Boss, which had been a little slow to begin, hunted up on the fence under Ng Kok Keong to lead from Warspirit and Jet Man back in third place.
Ng set a good speed on Southern Boss to the hometurn but soon after straightening Warspirit set sail after the leader. Jet Man was also in pursuit while Smart Samurai, which had been in fifth position to the home turn, was pulled to the centre of the course by Shafiq to unwind a finishing burst.
Warspirit kicked clear with 200m to run, setting up a winning break and while Smart Samurai whittled back the margin he was never a threat of catching the winner and was comfortably held on the line.
Tan said Warspirit had joined his stable about four weeks ago, having previously been prepared by Mark Walker, and said he was still learning about the gelding.
“I got him about four weeks ago and I’m still learning about him,” said Tan. “He’s a bit of a lazy horse so I have to send him out each morning to do two laps of the track at training.
“He’s starting to work a bit better and I told the jockey to ride him up on the speed today and he followed my instructions perfectly.
“My instructions were to go forward as it was a short race and also a small field and that helped him as well.
“I also think dropping back in class a bit was also good for him.”
A six-year-old New Zealand-bred by Scaredee Cat from Lucerne, Warspirit and now won six of his 33 starts in Singapore and took his prizemoney to around sg$270,000 in prizemoney for the Very Stable.
Tan landed back-to-back victories when Perfect Challenger (Oscar Chavez) scored a short-head victory in the $35,000 Maiden Stakes over 1200m from Regal Salute (A'Isisuhairi 'Harry' Kasim) with Prosperity Star (Shafiq Rizuan) three-and-a-quarter lengths away in third place.
