The strength of two-time Singapore champion jockey Vlad Duric was a sight to behold as it became the one singular factor that lifted Fame Star from the brink of defeat to first over the line on Sunday.
The Twirling Candy four-year-old did look a moral when he came collaring the leader Winning Hobby (Azhar Ismail) upon straightening, more so when favourite Mo Almighty (Michael Rodd) was not pinging as anticipated a few pegs back in third place.
But Winning Hobby was not throwing the towel in yet as he slowly clawed his way back. The Fame Star connections and backers alike must have thought they had gone the early crow as the US-bred seemed to be struggling to maintain his slender lead.
That was when Duric said “you shall not pass”. Wielding the persuader like only he knows – arms spinning like an electric fan with knees tightened like a fulcrum at the withers and bum almost going over the croup - Fame Star picked himself off the canvas to throw everything including the sink into the race – with a short head on Winning Hobby the ultimate reward.
Debut winner Winning Hobby was gallant in defeat while Mo Almighty had to settle for third place another three-quarter length away. The winning time was 1min 10.25secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
Duric said he had been test-driving Fame Star in trackwork and thought he was not without qualities.
“I galloped him during the week and I told (John O’Hara’s assistant-trainer) Steve (Crutchley) I was quite impressed with him and I liked him,” said Duric.
“The only question mark was the weight as he’s such a young horse. I just wanted to get in a position where he could control the race to offset the weight.
“I controlled the race pretty good and he fought back very good.”
Crutchley said Fame Star had a chance but it was greatly enhanced by the pilot sitting atop, especially in the closing stages.
“It helps when Vlad is on top. He made the difference,” said the Kiwi horseman.
“The horse had to carry the weight. It was the plan to go forward, I was very confident, it’s a plan that has gone well.”
Sent off at $31, Fame Star was picking up his second career win in seven starts for stakes money that have now edged closer to the $150,000 mark for the Toast Trusts/Kadima Stable.
