French jockey Olivier Placais said he felt like he was more like a jet pilot than a jockey after he jumped off impressive Sunday winner Shadow Of War.
Filling in for 2016 champion trainer Alwin Tan-trained chestnut’s regular partner Manoel Nunes, currently suspended, Placais certainly did not let the opportunity go begging, though he admitted to not digging deep into his toolbox to get the budding talent home in the $60,000 Happiness 2017 Stakes, a Class 4 affair over 1000m on Polytrack.
One of the best away, the previous two-time winner jogged straight to the lead for Placais without much fuss before they dropped anchor to dictate terms at their own rhythm.
As the race unfolded, it soon grew clearer that the remaining 10 horses would have their jobs cut out even if quality individuals such as Cadet, Hello Michelle and stablemate Rainbow Royal were in their midst.
Turning for home, Shadow Of War ($24) skipped two lengths clear, and though the chasing posse got underway, at the 150m, Placais could already pose for the camera. The official winning margin for the 2016 champion trainer’s galloper was 2 ½ lengths from Halo Bright (Wong Chin Chuen) but the forward son of Sebring could easily have routed his rivals if his rider had not eased off late.
Hello Michelle (Zawari Razali) ran third another neck away. The winning time was 59.37 seconds for the 1000m speed dash.
“First of all, a big thank you to Alwin and the owners (Nova Racing Stable) for having put me on with Manoel suspended,” said Placais who does get solid support from Tan, but not so much from the emerging owners.
“Now I can appreciate better why Alwin is a champion trainer. With horses like these, they make a jockey’s job easier.
“This one went like a jet, and all we have to do is steer them in the right direction and just make sure they don’t lose the race. At the corner, I just had to get his balance right and he changed three gears in a few strides!”
Often times, reaching the top is easy to pull off, but staying there can be a different kettle of fish, but Tan’s smashing start – he later saddled a race-to-race double with Soon Yi (Alan Munro) in the $35,000 Wong Chin Chuen Stakes, a Class 5 Division 1 race over 1200m - had the new 2016 champion trainer all smiles.
“Even though Elite Takes All and Effortless were scratched, it was still a strong field,” said Tan.
“My horse lost to a very good horse in Red Dawn at his last start, but he was also facing new challengers.
“At his two barrier trials, my horse showed a lot of pace, and I told Oli to ride him forward but to go in with Plan B in case someone else leads.
“But I have to give Oli credit for the way he rode the horse to instructions and it’s paid off.
“Oli is a very hard worker and rides seven days a week for us. I recommended to the owners he rides this horse and he did not disappoint.”
Shadow Of War, whose name is famously inspired from Tan’s former Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair, has certainly established himself as a promising sort at the first steps of his Kranji career, having now won three from four for earnings around the $120,000 mark for connections.
Unfortunately for Placais, he was stood down for dehydration after his ride aboard Muscular Dragon in Race 6, having to give up his remaining two rides Petite Victoire (Race 7) and Cooptado in the day's feature, the Group 3 New Year Cup.
