Trainer Stephen Gray praised Alan Munro for a perfect ride on Brilliant One in Sunday’s first race, but also spared a thought for jockey Vlad Duric, especially for his selflessness.
Duric last rode the Showcasing three-year-old when runner-up to Moment Of Justice in a Maiden event over 1400m a month ago, but with the handicap being only 51kgs in Sunday’s $65,000 Initiation race over 1400m, he would have to cut an arm to make the weight.
With Duric caught in a riveting title fight with Manoel Nunes and Danny Beasley, every ride counts, and Gray, who is the Australian rider’s No 1 supporter, could have skipped that race to look for another race where he could jump back on.
But Duric had the last say which way to go.
“Vlad wasn’t selfish about the whole thing. He couldn’t make the weight, but he told me to give the horse a run in that 1400m race as he was fit and well, don’t waste it,” said Gray.
“We booked Alan and he’s ridden the horse very well, but I have to give Vlad credit for putting the horse’s interests first.”
Sent out at lukewarm odds of $51, Brilliant One was seen as just the early pacemaker when he jumped on the bunny, especially with short-priced favourite ($6) Mr Lewis (Michael Rodd) tucked away right behind, ready to pounce once he is in the clear.
But that opening never materialised for Mr Lewis, who put in a half-hearted bid when Brilliant One rolled off the fence ever so slightly, not leaving sufficient room for him to dart through. Munro kept his horse on the rise, which Brilliant One responded gamely to, plugging away to hold a three-quarter length edge over Mr Lewis with Prince Ferdinand (Sam Subian) third, another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 24.02secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
Gray realised luck played a bit of a part in the win, but said Brilliant One also won on his own merits, predicting a staying future for the gelding raced by East Malaysian connections
“He won a nice race today, though we were lucky the favourite (Mr Lewis) couldn’t get off the fence,” said the Kiwi handler.
“I bought the horse from the Karaka Ready To Run sales. He’s a neat horse with a great temperament, and he will stay, thought we thought he would be a sprinter at first as he is by Showcasing.
“He’s my first winner for the owner, Peter Chin who is the Chairman of the Royal Sabah Turf Club. Well done to Peter.”
