The talented but unpredictable Shanghai Bund bounced back from a bungled start at his last outing to emerge a narrow victor in the $80,000 Tabcorp Holdings Trophy, a Class 3 race over 1400m on Sunday.
The Denman five-year-old jumped a lot better for Michael Rodd this time round to settle in midfield before working his way into the race to be in a striking spot by the home bend.
At the 200m it was anyone’s race with six horses spread across the track and race-leader Sun Empire (Wong Chin Chuen) hanging on for dear life.
After favourite Hermano Menor (Salim Yusoff) poked his head on the inside, he soon petered out and it was left to Bravo Charlie (Barend Vorster), Warpath (A’Isisuhairi Kasim), Shanghai Bund and the fast-finishing Risky Rockefeller (Glen Boss) to hammer out the issue.
None of them was, however, capable of clicking for another gear, and in a real slog to the line, the one who stuck his head out first, Shanghai Bund, held his ground in the bunched-up group to get up by a neck.
Risky Rockefeller earned the runner-up spot ahead of Warpath by a nose while Bravo Charlie weakened late to run fourth another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 22.69secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
Winning trainer James Peters said he was hoping his China Horse Club-owned ward would make amends and was pleased he did.
“He missed the start at his last race and we had to put a line through that,” said the Englishman.
“He was two lengths behind at the back and that didn’t suit him. He jumped much better today and Michael rode him very well.
“He has a strong sprint and he can sit wherever he is comfortable. He is tough as nails and gives 110%.”
Rodd concurred with the young trainer that Shanghai Bund is not without ability but can be a risky proposition at times.
“He had the perfect run in transit. Once he was balanced up, he kicked on quite strongly,” said the Australian jockey.
“He’s got his niggling issues and is not the easiest horse to train. He’s not a big quality horse but in Class 3, he is honest and can win his fair share of races.”
Shanghai Bund was posting his fourth win from 19 runs for stakes earnings which have now hit the $290,000 mark for the China Horse Club.
