Up-and-coming Perfect Challenger served notice of his abilities and provided trainer Alwin Tan with a happy headache ahead of the $500,000 Singapore Guineas in two weeks.
Ridden by Oscar Chavez, the New Zealand-bred gelding set himself up nicely for the Group 1 race over 1600m on May 16 with a last-to-first victory in the shorter $80,000 Class 3 race (1400m) on Sunday.
The three-year-old brown galloper timed his charge to perfection as he snatched victory by a head over Hong Kong import Indian Jade (Manoel Nunes) with Two M And M (Barend Vorster) one and a quarter lengths away in third. The winning time on the Long Course was 1min 22.61secs.
Having begun his career as a sprinter with three victories over 1200m, Perfect Challenger was well beaten in his last two starts by stablemate and Tan's star three-year-old War Affair, who is also the overwhelming favourite to complete a clean sweep of the 3YO series by taking home the Guineas.
While the O'Reilly three-year-old is expected to step up to the mile easily, Tan was pleasantly surprised with the flying finish of Perfect Challenger and gives the Singaporean handler another leading hope for the final leg of the 3YO Challenge.
“He's improved a lot in his last three starts and I think he has a chance for the Guineas based on the way he ran today,” said Tan, who picked up his 30th winner of the season and holds a four-point lead over Michael Freedman in the premiership.
“I thought he was up against some really strong and older horses today and initially we were going to ride him for luck but he performed very well in the end and showed the potential in this horse.”
Having drawn gate 10 and just inside of Indian Jade (who jumped from the outermost barrier 11), there was little option but for Perfect Challenger (installed as the $19 favourite) to be ridden quietly at the rear by his Panamanian-born hoop while another of Tan's promising three-year-olds Gato Negro (Tan Wei Li) charged to the front and led the chasing pack.
“That's been his pattern and it seems this horse prefers to be positioned at the back but it's okay because we know he has a good kick and finishes very well,” said Tan.
As the field swung for home, the expected swoopers began their assaults with Perfect Challenger one of the key movers down the home straight. Realising that an opportunity for a clear run was available if he could get through the gap that appeared on the inside of Terminator (Mark Ewe), Perfect Challenger was on it like a flash and despite a slight bump, steadied himself and bounded for home.
Under the pouring rain and fuelled by Chavez's furious urgings, Perfect Challenger resisted the challenge from Indian Jade who was threatening on his outside as the winning post came to the favourite's rescue.
By Mr Nancho out of Tudor Princess, Perfect Challenger has now notched four wins from 14 starts and has amassed close to $160,000 in stakes earnings for the Perfect Racing Stable with the promise of more to come in a fortnight.
Tan later made it back-to-back victories when he sent out Mighty Creation (Tan Wei Li) for a half-length win in the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1000m on the Polytrack.
