One week after their tactical “bluff” with War Affair paid off, Alwin Tan and Danny Beasley have again pulled the wool over the eyes of their rivals.
While War Affair, a noted backmarker, was ridden upside down to race in a more forward spot than usual, the duo went the other way round with their new plan of deceit around Tiger Bee in the $90,000 Rocket Man 2009 Stakes, a Kranji Stakes C race over 1000m on Polytrack.
With most expecting the dashing frontrunner, who scored his last three wins in a row from barrier to box, to bolt easily to the lead from barrier No 5, Tan and Beasley elected to ride him off the pace instead.
Not only was the Danroad three-year-old eased off in fifth place behind the horse who in the end assumed the leading role – Southern Boss (Joseph See), he also had to switch out four wide to launch his challenge at the top of the straight.
At that moment, Tan and Beasley probably had some reasons to worry if their daring coup had not backfired while supporters of the $12 favourite would be nervously clutching their tickets at the 400m mark.
Southern Boss was showing no intentions of giving up as he kept attacking the line on the rails with plenty of resolve, but Tiger Bee was actually not in full cry yet. Once Beasley pulled the stick, the game galloper lengthened up to finally forge clear and score by one length from Southern Boss, much to the delight and relief of Tan and the connections, the Eight Eight One Stable.
Codigo (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) ran on for third another three-quarter-length away. The winning time was 59.44 seconds.
“Before the race, Danny and myself decided to play a trick on them again. I told Danny there would be a lot of pace in the race and he agreed with me some of them would go too fast for him,” said Tan.
“He proved he could take a sit too and even though he was four wide when he cornered, I knew he could still come home.
“On his timing of 59.44 seconds, he’s given me the confidence he has a bit of potential to be a better class horse one day.
“Thanks to Danny who does all the hard work on him and also Mr Chua, the owner, for supporting me with another good horse.
“I don’t have any big plans for him at this stage. I am not thinking about the 3YO series as I’ve already got my star in it (War Affair), but he sure has a lot of potential.”
While Tan said the change of tactics was more of a foil to smokescreen his adversaries, Beasley thought it might be the way to go as he opined that leading was actually not Tiger Bee’s natural racing pattern.
“Alwin and I discussed and we picked that race as there were not many options left for him,” said Beasley.
“I don’t think he is really a leader, and tonight was a good learning curve for him. He finished off really good and came home with flying colours.”
