Bahana
Singapore Turf Club
Emerging stayer Bahana (NZ) (Elusive City) earned his ticket to the Dester Singapore Gold Cup after running his heart out to a hard-fought victory in the $150,000 Group 3 El Dorado Classic (2200m) on Sunday.
Jumping from barrier No 2, the Elusive City five-year-old travelled in the box-seat from the start before staking his claim upon straightening. The race was anything but a walk in the park for the $24 joint-favourite (with Cooptado) from that point onwards, though, with surprise guest Guru-Guru (NZ) (Faltaat) charging through for a strong challenge at the 300m while Gilt Complex (NZ) (Gold Centre) was also chiming in on the outside giving the New Zealand breeds the trifecta.
Jockey Vlad Duric was not loafing with his usual strong whip riding and Bahana lunged at the line to finish locked together with Desmond Koh's $132 smokie. With the naked eye, it looked like Guru-Guru might have just held on for a most incredible story, especially for his celebrated Malaysian champion jockey, but the photo print gave the verdict to Bahana by a short head.
Gray said the El Dorado Classic was a race that sprang up only after Bahana started to cement his status as a potential Gold Cup contender.
"Nothing was actually planned for him. We just took it step by step, and today he's won the El Dorado and he's running in the Gold Cup next," said Gray.
"I thought he was a bit out of the handicap today, stepping up to that level, but everything went good. He had a great run on the rails from barrier two.
"It's great he won in a photo as we didn't have much luck earlier with Bayu running third in Race 4. He was caught wide and he should have won, but this is much better.
"I told Untung (Joesoef) that this horse was a nice staying type with a speed sire out of a staying family.
"Whether he will win the Gold Cup or not, I don't know, but I do know his preparation has been just perfect for such a race."
Jockey, Vlad Duric joked he was glad he was a bad judge in tight finishes. He thought Twickenham (also prepared by Gray) was too late to peg Kirks Ryker back in the Group 3 Committee's Prize (1600m), but the judge's camera proved him wrong, and it was the same happy result on Sunday.
"I actually feel sorry for Azhar because I told him 'you got me, good on ya mate' after the winning post. I really thought he beat me but the photo proved me wrong," said the Australian jockey.
"I'm a terrible judge in front, but it's great Bahana won. He is owned by a great bunch of people and they deserve a Group win.
"Steve has done a great job spacing his run and that's one of his strengths, and Cliff Brown does the same. He builds up their confidence and that's why he's done so well."
With that sixth win, Bahana has now brought his stakes earnings close to the $320,000 mark for Joesoef's Dago Stable.
Bahana is a graduate of both the New Zealand Bloodstock 2013 Select Sale from the draft of Haunui Farm and the New Zealand Bloodstock 2013 Ready to Run sale where he was sold by Lime Country Thoroughbreds. -STC
Jumping from barrier No 2, the Elusive City five-year-old travelled in the box-seat from the start before staking his claim upon straightening. The race was anything but a walk in the park for the $24 joint-favourite (with Cooptado) from that point onwards, though, with surprise guest Guru-Guru (NZ) (Faltaat) charging through for a strong challenge at the 300m while Gilt Complex (NZ) (Gold Centre) was also chiming in on the outside giving the New Zealand breeds the trifecta.
Jockey Vlad Duric was not loafing with his usual strong whip riding and Bahana lunged at the line to finish locked together with Desmond Koh's $132 smokie. With the naked eye, it looked like Guru-Guru might have just held on for a most incredible story, especially for his celebrated Malaysian champion jockey, but the photo print gave the verdict to Bahana by a short head.
Gray said the El Dorado Classic was a race that sprang up only after Bahana started to cement his status as a potential Gold Cup contender.
"Nothing was actually planned for him. We just took it step by step, and today he's won the El Dorado and he's running in the Gold Cup next," said Gray.
"I thought he was a bit out of the handicap today, stepping up to that level, but everything went good. He had a great run on the rails from barrier two.
"It's great he won in a photo as we didn't have much luck earlier with Bayu running third in Race 4. He was caught wide and he should have won, but this is much better.
"I told Untung (Joesoef) that this horse was a nice staying type with a speed sire out of a staying family.
"Whether he will win the Gold Cup or not, I don't know, but I do know his preparation has been just perfect for such a race."
Jockey, Vlad Duric joked he was glad he was a bad judge in tight finishes. He thought Twickenham (also prepared by Gray) was too late to peg Kirks Ryker back in the Group 3 Committee's Prize (1600m), but the judge's camera proved him wrong, and it was the same happy result on Sunday.
"I actually feel sorry for Azhar because I told him 'you got me, good on ya mate' after the winning post. I really thought he beat me but the photo proved me wrong," said the Australian jockey.
"I'm a terrible judge in front, but it's great Bahana won. He is owned by a great bunch of people and they deserve a Group win.
"Steve has done a great job spacing his run and that's one of his strengths, and Cliff Brown does the same. He builds up their confidence and that's why he's done so well."
With that sixth win, Bahana has now brought his stakes earnings close to the $320,000 mark for Joesoef's Dago Stable.
Bahana is a graduate of both the New Zealand Bloodstock 2013 Select Sale from the draft of Haunui Farm and the New Zealand Bloodstock 2013 Ready to Run sale where he was sold by Lime Country Thoroughbreds. -STC