The dynamic duo of Sha Tin trainer Casper Fownes and jockey Zac Purton combined with Southern Legend to claim the S$1.5m.
SGroup 1 Kranji Mile (1600m) at Kanji on Saturday night in the first running of the Singapore Turf Club’s invitation race, the prelude to a full international race in 2019.
While Southern Legend came to the race with the equal highest international rating of 115 off the back of his third in the Group 1 Champions Mile over 1600m at Sha Tin on April 29th, he still had to travel to Singapore off the back of a long Hong Kong season that began back in September.
All week the five-year-old gelding had looked well and relaxed and when barrier one was drawn it seemed the only question was had the season’s racing taken a toll.
From the moment the barriers opened and Purton sent Southern Legend forward quickly to maintain the leader’s position on the rail that question was not only answered, but the race was effectively in their keeping.
Behind Southern Legend there was a charge to both keep in touch and obtain position, with Horse Of Fortune, Circuit Land and Nova Strike in close proximity. Purton slowed the tempo heading into the turn and that allowed Maximus to come up alongside. Although taking a brief lead at no stage did Purton allow his clear space ahead to hampered by Maximus to their outside.
Once they had straightened for the long run to the line Purton once more put the pressure on and took a clear lead. They were 2L ahead at the 300m and then Purton asked Southern Legend too step up again and they left the field behind. Approaching the line Purton eased off with the race completed and a 3L winning margin.
Fellow Hong Kong competitor Horse Of Fortune (Stronghold) and Karis Teetan held second with 1L to Nova Strike (Red Giant) and Oliver Placais third. Clarton Super was fourth and Infantry fifth.
The time was 1.33.79 on the Yielding track.
“I wanted to lead if I could. I was a little bit worried mid-race, Karis Teetan on Horse Of Fortune outside me kept kicking up between myself and the horse that was three wide outside me to try and come across. So I kept the horse outside working a little bit and he kept putting pressure on me a bit,” said Purton.
“My horse was not over racing or travelling too fiercely. I knew I had him in a nice rhythm and at the 400m I thought he would be hard to beat.
“It is great to win a race anywhere and Singapore has been a special place to me. I have had a lot of luck here. It is good to come here and win it for Casper as well. I have been turning up for work this season and it is good for the stable to have another horse at this level,” he said.
The win was Fownes’ fourth at Krani, the previous three being at the former International meetings discontinued in 2015.
“It has been a great victory today,” said Fownes.
“It has always been fun to come here and I am very happy we got this result. Zac got the job done nicely.
“He was the horse that was coming to hand and I think this coming December we will see more.
“I think he (Southern Legend) is just starting to come and get there as a racehorse. He has different patterns, he can go forward and he can come from behind. It was a good result,” he said.
Southern Legend, by Not A Single Doubt out of the Carnegie mare Donna’s Appeal, took his earnings to approx. HK$13 million with the win, his ninth from 21 starts for owner Boniface Ho Kui.
