Any doubts King Of Sixty-One could win on the Polytrack were quickly put to bed after the Tim Fitzsimmons-trained five-year-old won the $70,000 Class 3 race (1600m) on Sunday.
Though admittedly, the all-weather track was not too much of a concern for the Australian handler. Fitzsimmons was very confident the son of Gutaifan could win on the Polytrack which he ran unplaced twice previously, but he had some worries before the race with Aniki in the field.
"To be honest, I was really worried with another leader like Aniki likely to cause an issue early," said the 2022 Singapore champion trainer.
"I wasn't concerned with the Polytrack at all and the horse (King Of Sixty-One ) was ready to win again, but I thought we needed to lead.
"(Jockey) Ryan (Curatolo) and I discussed before the race the need for a plan B, and I'm glad we did.
"I told Ryan if he can't lead, then take a sit, but to take off as early as he could. He did that, made his move at the right time and when we levelled up (to Aniki) in the straight, the race was over."
Punters that stuck to their guns were grinning early after King Of Sixty-One (Curatolo) jumped well from gate five and settled beautifully behind the pacemaker Aniki (Bruno Queiroz), who crossed to lead from the outermost barrier seven. $13 favourite Super Baby (Daniel Moor) and Smart Star (Manoel Nunes) found themselves at the rear in the handy field of seven, with the slow early tempo in the backstraight favouring the on-pace runners.
When Aniki and King Of Sixty-One ($19) skipped three lengths clear before turning for home, the race for the backmarkers was all but over with racecaller Scott Bailey calling the two-horse affair with 350m to go.
He was not wrong and when the 58.5kgs topweight headed a game Aniki at the 250m while the chasing pack were still five lengths back, it was just a matter of the margin between the first two, with one length separating the pair at the finish post.
Smart Star and Super Baby both ran on well without threatening to finish two-and-a-quarter-lengths in third and a nose back in fourth respectively.
The winning time was 1 min 39.2secs for the 1600m on the Polytrack and King Of Sixty-One's fifth win from 18 starts in Singapore took his prizemoney to over $230,000 for the AJ's Stable.
Fitzsimmons has also thrown the Group 1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup (2000m) nominee into the deep end in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) on 7 September.
"He will give them something to chase in the (Grand Singapore) Gold Cup with just 50kgs." he enthused.
"That's been his aim for a long time, and he won well over 2000m before (by four-and-a-half lengths in a Class 4 race on 23 September 2023).
"But I reckon a run in the QEII Cup will be ideal for him in the lead-up.
"Obviously, it's a very tough ask at weight-for-age (conditions) as he's more of a handicapper, but we will send him to the front and whatever he does, it will do him good.
"He's a beauty this horse. (Ex-Kranji jockey) Mark Gallagher bought him and while he (King Of Sixty-One) took time to show his best, he's really blossomed lately under Ryan."
The Grand Singapore Gold Cup will be run on 5 October, which is the last meeting at Kranji before local racing comes to a halt.
Curatolo agreed with Fitzsimmons that a cheeky run would be on the cards in the Grand Singapore Gold Cup, but another lightweight rider would have to ride King Of Sixty-One.
"I would love to ride him out front in the Gold Cup but unfortunately, I would not be able to make the minimum weight," said Curatolo, who rides at 54kgs.
"I spoke with Tim before the race today as we were both worried Aniki might be faster early.
"We really wanted to lead and dictate but we had the plan B just in case and I'm glad we did.
"Tim told me what to do if Aniki led and to make the first move. That's exactly what I did.
"I didn't look back, but I know when I made the move, it was the right time and we would be hard to beat.
"Tim is very good like that. He gives me free rein at times but also advise and gives me the confidence that my horse can win. We make a good team.
"The horse just kept surprising me. That's my third win from three rides on him now.
"Like with Tim, I have a good affinity with King Of Sixty-One and that made my job easier."
