Leading trainer Patrick Shaw enjoyed a stellar run of winners over the weekend capped off with Quechua's victory in the Group 2 Chairman's Trophy on Sunday.
Having brought up a four-timer on Friday evening (Mighty Kenny, Mighty Emperor, Big Brother and Rafaello), Shaw then set his sets on the staying feature saddling up four of the 10 runners engaged.
As it turned out the market would get it virtually spot on with only the barest of margins separating the two in the finish.
A masterful ride from Corey Brown would prove the difference with Quechua getting the jump on his stablemate, having settled closer to the speed in-running.In what can only be described as a pedestrian pace early, the closing section (last 600m) was run 6L inside standard and notably was run 4L quicker than impressive winner Alibi earlier in the day.
A distinct model of consistency, the multiple Group 1 winner is clearly back in great form notching up back to back wins for the first time since collecting the Singapore Gold Cup (2014) - New Year Cup (2015) double.In 22 starts in Singapore Quechua has only missed the money on three occasions, two of which have came in his last four starts.
Quechua first failed to finish on the podium in last year's Singapore Gold Cup [2200m], when finishing fifth behind stablemate Cooptado.On that occasion he proved very game in defeat when clearly unsuited at the weights, however his recent performances behind Laughing Gravy were well short of his best.
Unable to fire when sent out the $3.20 favourite in the Group 1 QEII Cup [2000m], Patrick Shaw elected to freshen up [42 days] the six-year-old and drop him back in trip.A key masterstroke which has since seen Quechua return to winning form having won over the mile two back before confirming that level of performance over the weekend.
From an historical perspective Quechua's performance sees him sit right on the average of past winners of the Chairman's Trophy [1800m].Quechua's performance sees him rated alongside the likes of Stepitup, Goodman, Flax and Chase Me, with little separating these select few on their respective victories.
In what was surprisingly just Shaw's second success in the feature since first taking out the event in 2010 with Thundering Jet.While it was a thrill to see Quechua maintain his winning form, unfortunately it was another painful second for stablemate Majestic Moments.
Although clearly racing in great heart, Majestic Moments has now been narrowly beaten at his last three starts, two of which came in Group 1 company (Patron's Bowl and Singapore Derby).A key sectional star on Sunday, Majestic Moments also returned a clear new career peak and if placed in suitable company at his next outing he is sure to put that rating to good use.
He still remains on an upward spiral and is definitely one to follow moving forward as that elusive victory is surely not far away.
