Trainer Cliff Brown franked the close affinity he has enjoyed with the Racing Guide Classic after he landed the race sponsored by the leading racing publication for the third time in only four renewals on Sunday.
It was Poseidon, who actually supplied the Australian handler with the second Racing Guide Classic win last year, two years after Lord Brompton at the inaugural edition in 2013, who was the one to keep the prolific run going yet again.
While the six-year-old son of Gold Centre made all under Derreck David at the first win last year when the sponsored race was run in March, he sat back in third place for Michael Rodd this time in the $125,000 race (1400m) run on a rain-affected track, before asserting his superiority inside the last two furlongs.
First-up from his sterling Emirates Singapore Derby second to Infantry back in July, Lim’s Samurai (Glen Boss) jumped out of the ground to give chase, but upfront, Poseidon never showed any signs of letting up to go and hold him safely at bay by 1 ¼ lengths.
Best Tothelign (Manoel Nunes) ran another honest race to take third place from the fast-finishing Affleck (Alan Munro). The winning time was 1min 22.95secs for the 1400m.
A delighted Brown said Poseidon was a lovely individual who was a “real pleasure to train”.
“It would seem I have a very good record in this race. It’s all good,” said Brown.
“He’s always been a lovely horse, so genuine. He does everything you ask of him, it’s a pleasure to train him.
“He might head to the EW Barker Trophy. We’ll see.”
The Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (1400m) is a handicap race run on November 10. Poseidon has actually been contesting ‘black type’ races at his last few starts (three), not losing any marks, though he was clearly outclassed at his last attempt in the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) when he beat two home behind Countofmontecristo.
But back down in slightly easier company, the Olympian Stable-owned gelding bounced straight back to his best, which certainly pleased Rodd as could be seen from the wide grin etched across his mud-splattered face as they strode past the winning post.
Rodd, who rides most of Brown’s top guns, said that he knew he was in the zone as soon as the gelding settled into his stride to take a tow in behind the early leaders.
“He’s always had a good record and today, had the superior turn of foot and won in style,” said the Australian jockey.
“We had an ideal run behind the leader. I was mindful not to put any pressure early.
“At the 500m, he had not spent a penny. He did change his legs and when I had him comfortable on his offside, he just sprinted clear.
“I think he also enjoyed that ground out there.”
Lee Freedman’s assistant-trainer Shane Ellis was also very pleased with his runner-up Lim’s Samurai’s effort, as well as stablemate Affleck’s fourth place.
“It was a really good run from Lim's Samurai. I’m very happy with that,” said Ellis.
“He will be going to the Raffles Cup next, and then the Gold Cup. He’s a clean-winded horse and doesn’t need to go to the El Dorado Classic.
“When he came back from the Derby, he had a week off and we just swam him. We just kept that fitness he had from the Derby.
“Affleck also ran enormous, but he can’t stay. So we won’t go to the Raffles Cup with him. We’ll look through the programme for his next race.”
The Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) on October 22 and the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on November 12 are the second and third Legs of the Singapore Triple Crown series.
