South African jockey Barend Vorster has partnered the Patrick Shaw-trained Spyder 11 times previously, all without success, but sparks finally flew for them when Spyder came flying down the straight to claim the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race.
The 38-year-old jockey currently sits on 25 wins on the Singapore jockey's premiership table, following two more wins on Friday night. One race before $68 shot Spyder saluted, he steered the David Hill-trained Beat To Quarters ($18 favourite) to victory in the $35,000 Class 5 Polytrack race over 1200m.
The Footstepsinthesand six-year-old gelding jumped from gate two to settle in midfield next to the rails, with $12 favourite Power Lion (Danny Beasley) on his outside, while bold frontrunner Himalaya Dragon (Mohd Zaki) led the race with Mexborough Boy (Lisa Allpress) in second position.
The leader was showing no signs of giving up in the home straight, but Spyder came charging in the last furlong, edging out Himalaya Dragon by a head in a close go. Power Lion stuck on well to finish another one-and-a-half-length away in third.
The winning time on the Polytrack was 1min 12.31secs.
With three wins previously scored with Nooresh Juglall as the partner once in August and twice with Joao Moreira earlier, Spyder came the closest to a win with Vorster when second in a Class 4 race over 1200m in October 2012.
Vorster was really pleased with his first winning combination with Spyder on Friday, pointing out that the good pace and low handicap (53.5kg) helped.
“His last run (their last partnership in March) was disappointing, but the previous one was okay,“ said Vorster of his last association with Spyder when the horse finished eighth, more than seven lengths behind Mia.
“There was good pace and he got a low weight this time round, which is helpful.
“He is a horse you have to ride patiently, and I had to push him to keep up with the pace as well. He quickened up nicely in the straight for me.
“Patrick has been planning to step this horse up in distance in future.
“It feels great to win on him, and I’m happy that he’s won again tonight.”
With four wins and nine placings in 31 starts, Spyder has racked up close to $240,000 in prizemoney for the Tmen Stable.
