Underrated jockey Matthew Kellady got more than he bargained for from Lee Freedman’s only runner of the day on Sunday – a Group 3 ride.
Booked to ride Lim’s Archer ($34) in the penultimate event, the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1700m on Polytrack, the Ipoh-born jockey went out and turned in a copybook ride, rating the Authorized five-year-old an absolute treat in front, before repelling his main threat, favourite Amazing Man (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) inside the last furlong to in the end prevail comfortably by two lengths.
To depict the superiority of the two first past the post in the rain-affected Polytrack, the next best finisher was Zac Ace (Barend Vorster) another three lengths away. The winning time was a slow 1min 47.9secs for the 1700m on the Polytrack.
Lim's Archer was bringing up two wins on the bounce, having scored in fairly identical fashion two weeks ago in a Class 4 race over 1600m, making all for Manoel Nunes, who could not be aboard on Sunday as he was serving a two-day suspension.
As Kellady jumped off the Lim’s Stable-owned gelding, happy no doubt to have padded up his 2017 tally to 14 winners and looking forward to a nice hot shower, an unexpected reward was awaiting him there and then.
“At the winner’s stall, Mick Dittman (Lim’s Stable’s racing manager) asked me if I had any ride in the Colonial Chief. I said ‘no’ and he told me I would get the ride on Lim’s Archer!” said a delighted Kellady.
“I’ve ridden him twice before and there is no Plan A, Plan B or Plan C with this horse. He must go forward, that’s it.
“But unless something stupid happens, then we will think of Plan D. Luckily, things went to plan.
“When Harry (A’Isisuhairi) came next to me, I wasn’t worried as I still had something up my sleeve. As he was racing tight, I had to switch the stick to the left hand, and the horse responded well.”
The $175,000 Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1700m) on Polytrack is the traditional last feature race of the year and will be run on the last day of the Singapore racing calendar, next Sunday, December 3.
It’s a race that is no stranger to Kellady as he won it with Best Tothelign for Shane Baertschiger two years ago, dead-heating with the Desmond Koh-trained Order Of The Sun (Benny Woodworth) .
Freedman could not have hoped for a more perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.
“I watched the cricket and then I came here for the last and my horse won. We can have a few beers now, it doesn’t get any better than that!” said the Australian trainer.
“This horse had a picnic with the lighter weight two weeks ago. He was on the Polytrack today, but with the rain, I was quite confident as these Authorized’s love bad ground.
“I had one named Authoritarian who won the St Leger (2800m) two years ago. So I thought let’s just take the angst out of it, go to the front and it’s paid off.
“He is now going to back up for the Group 3 race next Sunday. He’s a Polytrack horse and it’s worth a crack.”
With that fourth win, Lim’s Archer has now seen his bank account swollen to the $170,000 mark for the Lim’s Stable.
