Debt Collector (Pink Cap)
Singapore Turf Club
Exciting galloper Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park) returned to racing with the same panache he showed as a three-year-old when he landed a nail-biter in the $200,000 Sgp-3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) on Sunday.
The son of Thorn Park went for a well-earned break after his three-year-old exploits when he landed the last two Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, including the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) in May, with what has now become his trademark electric turn of foot.
His work and barrier trials had been good, but trainer Cliff Brown had cautioned he may face a big ask first-up against seasoned gallopers at weight-for-age level.
But horses don't listen to humans, but he sure responded to regular partner Michael Rodd's hard riding from the top of the straight to just blouse out Nova Strike (Manoel Nunes) right on the line.
The Alwin Tan-trained galloper was being hailed the winner when he came off his ideal rails-hugging run in transit to hit the front at the 200m, but Debt Collector who brought up the rear and improved three wide from the 800m was looming up with his grandstand finish on the outside.
The winning time was 1min 23.02secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
Tait was delighted with the run, "Credit must go to the stable staff, (assistant-trainer) Tim Fitzsimmons and all the boys who ride him and look after him. It was an incredible win, and honestly, I would have been happy if he had run third. He also defied the way the track has been playing when he came out wide. This horse can certainly do things other horses cannot.
Rodd jumped off shaking his head in disbelief, stunned by how much heart Debt Collector showed to find the line inside the last 300m.
"It's remarkable. I guess you can say it was another spine-tingling win," he said.
"He was not great early. He always takes a while to warm up in the first furlong. I wanted to be on the fence but I ended up sitting off the fence at the rear. I looked up to see where I was, ready to go for Plan B. But he's such a good horse that has so much strength and he started to let down very well once I went for him. But then he started to feel the ground as it had dried out late by then. I thought he might blow out first-up. He then started to shift out. He felt like his legs were not going but his head was, but luckily we made it right on the line.
"That win is even more amazing given the fact he was running in a very serious field today."
Rodd took the opportunity to reaffirm where his loyalty lay as far as the upcoming big races were concerned, and it was no surprise to hear in which he corner he was staying. The popular jockey was the one who earned the winning pick-up ride aboard Well Done in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) in July.
"I know I won the Derby with Well Done (NZ) (Falkirk), but we knew all along my loyalty was with Debt Collector," he said.
"I think Glen Boss will ride Well Done and I will stay with Debt Collector for the rest of the year."
Debt Collector has now amassed more than $640,000 in prizemoney for his owner, the Victorian-based Barree Stable. -STC
The son of Thorn Park went for a well-earned break after his three-year-old exploits when he landed the last two Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, including the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) in May, with what has now become his trademark electric turn of foot.
His work and barrier trials had been good, but trainer Cliff Brown had cautioned he may face a big ask first-up against seasoned gallopers at weight-for-age level.
But horses don't listen to humans, but he sure responded to regular partner Michael Rodd's hard riding from the top of the straight to just blouse out Nova Strike (Manoel Nunes) right on the line.
The Alwin Tan-trained galloper was being hailed the winner when he came off his ideal rails-hugging run in transit to hit the front at the 200m, but Debt Collector who brought up the rear and improved three wide from the 800m was looming up with his grandstand finish on the outside.
The winning time was 1min 23.02secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
Tait was delighted with the run, "Credit must go to the stable staff, (assistant-trainer) Tim Fitzsimmons and all the boys who ride him and look after him. It was an incredible win, and honestly, I would have been happy if he had run third. He also defied the way the track has been playing when he came out wide. This horse can certainly do things other horses cannot.
Rodd jumped off shaking his head in disbelief, stunned by how much heart Debt Collector showed to find the line inside the last 300m.
"It's remarkable. I guess you can say it was another spine-tingling win," he said.
"He was not great early. He always takes a while to warm up in the first furlong. I wanted to be on the fence but I ended up sitting off the fence at the rear. I looked up to see where I was, ready to go for Plan B. But he's such a good horse that has so much strength and he started to let down very well once I went for him. But then he started to feel the ground as it had dried out late by then. I thought he might blow out first-up. He then started to shift out. He felt like his legs were not going but his head was, but luckily we made it right on the line.
"That win is even more amazing given the fact he was running in a very serious field today."
Rodd took the opportunity to reaffirm where his loyalty lay as far as the upcoming big races were concerned, and it was no surprise to hear in which he corner he was staying. The popular jockey was the one who earned the winning pick-up ride aboard Well Done in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) in July.
"I know I won the Derby with Well Done (NZ) (Falkirk), but we knew all along my loyalty was with Debt Collector," he said.
"I think Glen Boss will ride Well Done and I will stay with Debt Collector for the rest of the year."
Debt Collector has now amassed more than $640,000 in prizemoney for his owner, the Victorian-based Barree Stable. -STC