Punters were left reeling in the main race after big bobber Solaris Spectrum upstaged hot favourite Super Fortune by a head on Friday night.
The two horses staged a bit of a bumping duel inside the last furlong of the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m, with the $220 shot delivering the shocker as he worried the $9 hotpot out by a head on the line.
Olivier Placais and Super Fortune looked to have the race all stitched up when they came off a perfect one-out one-back spot to hit the front at the 300m mark, but young apprentice jockey Krisna Thangamani had other ideas as he steered Shane Baertschiger’s pint-sized galloper on the nearside of Super Fortune for a possible upset.
For a split second, it looked like favourite punters would be saved as Super Fortune fought off his pesky challenger but the 3.5-kilo difference in the end translated into a head margin in Solaris Spectrum’s favour.
Weights and measures aside, trainer Shane Baertschiger was in any case convinced the result would not have stood if it had swung the other way.
“The other horse was laying on top of my horse in the straight. I think we would have won on objection,” said the Australian handler.
“It didn’t really surprise me he won. He loves the wet track and he’s got a good first-up record.
“He’s a game little horse and Krisna rode him a treat. He only cost A$40,000 and he’s now won more than $350,000, he’s more than paid his way.”
Maybe there weren’t many cheers from the other side of the fence, but one happy face belonged to Krisna who was at his only ride of the night and only his second ride for the year. Trainer Ricardo Le Grange’s three-kilo-claiming apprentice jockey said the postage-stamp weight of 50 kilos was the main factor in the win.
“He got bumped by Olivier’s horse, and maybe that got him going again, he fought very hard,” said the Malaysian rookie.
“I was tight for room and I had to ride him hands and heels. I actually hit him only twice, and he gave a nice kick.
“But I think it’s the 50kgs that helped him the most. Thank you to the trainer and the owner (Chen Kwong Stable) for the ride.”
A six-year-old by Time Thief, Solaris Spectrum was registering his sixth win from 24 starts.
