Exciting newcomer Ronnie Brown is likely to draw even louder cheers from his first-time owners if he wins his first mini-feature race this Sunday, but more significantly, may then be seen as more than just a passing fad.
In only two starts, the very first purchase by an enthusiastic bunch of Australian expatriates has become an overnight sensation, on both occasions sailing away with the money in dominant fashion for leading trainer Michael Freedman.
While the two victories (1000m and 1200m) have been full of merit, it is the wild celebrations from his brown jacket-clad connections and their friends at the winner’s circle that have turned heads. Beginner’s luck or not, the feelgood factor around the Darci Brahma three-year-old seems to have had a ripple effect beyond his inner circle as he was recently voted the Facebook Horse of the Month for August.
Freedman had long earmarked Sunday’s inaugural $200,000 Jubilee Stakes, a 1400m race for three-year-olds as a step-up in grade which will put Kranji’s new pin-up horse under the cosh a little further.
Joining him in the feature race to mark the 170th anniversary of the Singapore Turf Club are the two Joy N Happiness Stable-owned Super Junior (also by Darci Brahma) and Super Good (x Fastnet Rock), both prepared by Freedman as well.
But the X factor is clearly with Ronnie Brown, who did no harm to that impression with a nose-second to Super Easy (Joao Moreira) in a solid barrier trial hit-out on Tuesday. One of the best away for race-jockey Stephen Baster, Ronnie Brown was just cuddled along behind the speed before nearly nudging out his more famous stablemate on the line.
“He has not raced for the best part of a month, and as he’s a big gross sort of horse, I thought I’d give him a barrier trial just to bring up his fitness level,” said Freedman.
“I don’t normally trial my horses in the week before they race, but I thought he would be better off with a gallop under his belt.
“I told both riders to give them a nice gallop, not to knock them around too much, and they both ran very well.”
With the unbeaten Huka Falls in the Jubilee Stakes line-up, Freedman did not hold his breath about his jockey Moreira switching to either Super Junior or Super Good, even if he won twice aboard Super Junior and often rides for the Joy N Happiness Stable.
“Joao has been saying what a machine Laurie’s (Laxon) horse is. As I knew that horse would be in the race, I didn’t even discuss with Joao,” said Freedman who has booked Barend Vorster and Jose Verenzuela for the rides aboard Super Junior and Super Good respectively.
“But I’m happy enough with the other two horses, They’ve had varying preparations and seem to have come good for that race.
“Super Good is ultra consistent and did a tough job to win in Class 4 at his last start. He was trapped wide and did it the hard way.
“Super Junior’s preparation has been faultless but he struck a soft track at his last run and he didn’t like it at all. I’ve always wanted him to go over 1400m on a firmer track as he seems to be better over the top of the ground.”
Super Good has recorded three wins, all over 1200m, from six starts while Super Junior won two-from-two on Polytrack (1000m and 1200m) before running third to Juvenile Championship winner Rising Empire in a 1400m race on turf.
But such is Moreira’s enviable status as Kranji kingpin that he can pick and choose his rides (he also rode Jackpot and Silveron Warrior at their last-start wins) and his decision to stick with Huka Falls speaks volumes about his faith in the son of Align.
“He was the obvious pick for me, though I must say I have plenty of respect for Ronnie Brown,” said the two-time Singapore champion jockey who reached his 500th Singapore winner with Royal Tudor last Sunday, and has all but wrapped up his third title with his current haul of 165 winners, which is a staggering 106 winners clear of Baster.
“I galloped him (Huka Falls) with a very good Class 2 horse, Red Beardst Saturday and he went very well. I couldn’t be happier with him.
“I will gallop him again tomorrow. If he keeps improving, he could become one of the best here.”
Meanwhile, both Freedman and Moreira said Super Easy was right on track for his comeback race in the Group 1 Kranji Mile on October 7, when he will attempt to break the record of 12 wins in a row, which he currently shares with Better Than Ever.
“He had a maintenance trial today as he would have not raced for five weeks until the Kranji Mile,” said Freedman.
“Joao just gave him a nice trial and he hit the line very well.”
Moreira, who has been the Darci Brahma four-year-old’s partner at all his 12 starts, was again struggling for superlatives after the trial.
“It was just so perfect, the way he gets himself in the barrier, jumps so well and puts himself in the right spot,” he said.
“I got him with cover until I put him in the clear halfway through. I never pushed him and he just kept rolling to the post.
“I just enjoy getting on top of him every time. He’ll be the horse to beat again.”
