The Shane Baertschiger-trained Soldado repaid his connections’ patience with a rousing win in the $60,000 Class 4 Premier race over 1100m on Friday night.
The winning post has become a hazy distant memory for the Pins six-year-old even if he has often finished in the money. The last of his two wins in a Class 4 race over 1200m came on August 19, 2016 – 819 days ago.
But the long time between drinks was finally over after jockey John Powell dropped him in the gun run outside leader Super Six (Vlad Duric) before they quickly put a big space between him and the rest in the home straight.
The issue was soon put beyond doubt when Soldado ($24) shot clear en route towards an emphatic 3 ½-length win from Super Six with Lucky Master (Erasmus Aslam) third another nose away. The winning time was 1min 5.63secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
Owner and legal eagle Desmond Ong was a relieved man as he headed down with his partners for the traditional lead-in.
“It’s been a long time – 819 days – and don’t remind me of the training bills we have to pay every month!” said the lawyer and chairman of football club Tampines Rovers.
“He’s been a consistent horse, and Shane has done a very good job with him.”
Powell, who was coming back from a two-day suspension for careless riding aboard Military Chairman in a race on October 26, said his input was minimum in Soldado’s welcomed return to the winner’s enclosure.
“He’s a horse that has run a lot of placings. I think he has 12-15 minor placings and it was good to get the win tonight,” said the Australian hoop whose last win before suspension came aboard Blitz Power on October 26.
“He jumped forward and he just rolled. He was too good for them.
“Last time, Shane said it was not a good idea to ride him along to go forward. He didn’t like it.
“He’s a horse we should just let him stride. If he pings, then we can utilise his speed and go forward, but otherwise we should just let him settle where he is comfortable.”
With that third success from 32 starts, Soldado has somehow managed to hit the $230,000 mark, largely owing to his seven seconds and eight thirds for the Soldado Stable.
