Noble Liaison
Singapore Turf Club
Trainer James Peters' decision to put off the racing debut of promising galloper Noble Liaison proved to be right on the mark when the New Zealand-bred newcomer took out Sunday's SG$65,000 Magneto 2014 Stakes, an Initiation race over 1200m.
In work for a while now, the Darci Brahma four-year-old was even carded to go through his maiden Kranji run a couple of times, but was somehow pulled out each time.
Peters later explained the reason behind the non-starts was nothing too serious, just precautionary, but in hindsight, it has given his charge a little more time to sharpen up – and get off to a victorious note for good measure.
Sharing joint favouritism with Mr Lewis (Michael Rodd), Noble Liaison (Danny Beasley) began smartly to take a forward spot from his awkward gate.
Beasley allowed his mount to go through his strides on a loose rein, coolly biding his time before popping the question at the top of the straight. Leader Typhon gave him a bit of a fight for about 100m, but Noble Liaison's superiority eventually had the last say.
Noble Liaison warmed up to the task and kept on well inside the last 100m to defeat Typhon by three parts of a length with Mr Lewis losing no marks in third place another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 11.18secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
"He had a few niggly issues that forced us to hold off his debut, but as he's a nice horse, we didn't want to take any risk with him until we were 100% happy," said the English handler.
"We knew from Day 1 that he's got a lot of ability, and he will also get a lot better over more ground."
Beasley also agreed that the second winner for the new Singapore-Australian joint venture of Lim's & Mark's Stable after Paperback Trooper, runs more like a stayer, which was a little at odds with his pedigree.
"I rode him in his trials and to me, he feels like a long-distance horse," said the Australian jockey.
"But being by Darci Brahma, it may limit the distance to a mile. Today, I was pretty confident all the way, though there was a bit of a nervous moment at the top of the straight.
"Whether he's riding the short-priced favourite or a 100-1 chance, CC Wong is a very good young rider and you really have to respect him.
"His horse really ran to the very best of his ability, but my horse finished just a shade better in the end."
In work for a while now, the Darci Brahma four-year-old was even carded to go through his maiden Kranji run a couple of times, but was somehow pulled out each time.
Peters later explained the reason behind the non-starts was nothing too serious, just precautionary, but in hindsight, it has given his charge a little more time to sharpen up – and get off to a victorious note for good measure.
Sharing joint favouritism with Mr Lewis (Michael Rodd), Noble Liaison (Danny Beasley) began smartly to take a forward spot from his awkward gate.
Beasley allowed his mount to go through his strides on a loose rein, coolly biding his time before popping the question at the top of the straight. Leader Typhon gave him a bit of a fight for about 100m, but Noble Liaison's superiority eventually had the last say.
Noble Liaison warmed up to the task and kept on well inside the last 100m to defeat Typhon by three parts of a length with Mr Lewis losing no marks in third place another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 11.18secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
"He had a few niggly issues that forced us to hold off his debut, but as he's a nice horse, we didn't want to take any risk with him until we were 100% happy," said the English handler.
"We knew from Day 1 that he's got a lot of ability, and he will also get a lot better over more ground."
Beasley also agreed that the second winner for the new Singapore-Australian joint venture of Lim's & Mark's Stable after Paperback Trooper, runs more like a stayer, which was a little at odds with his pedigree.
"I rode him in his trials and to me, he feels like a long-distance horse," said the Australian jockey.
"But being by Darci Brahma, it may limit the distance to a mile. Today, I was pretty confident all the way, though there was a bit of a nervous moment at the top of the straight.
"Whether he's riding the short-priced favourite or a 100-1 chance, CC Wong is a very good young rider and you really have to respect him.
"His horse really ran to the very best of his ability, but my horse finished just a shade better in the end."