Mighty Conqueror
Singapore Turf Club
Progressive sort Mighty Conqueror staved off his rivals with ease to go and score a strong win in the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1000m on Friday night.
The Patapan four-year-old was resuming after showing handy form with two wins and two thirds from four starts all run over 1200m last year.
From a good gate in three and with champion jockey Azhar Ismail in the irons, he was always going to get solid support, and the second favourite ($17) certainly did not disappoint when he beat off challenges to relegate Effortless (John Powell) to second place 1 ¾ lengths away with stablemate Champagne Rein (Gerald Mosse) third another three parts of a length away.
Mighty Conqueror jumped fairly and looked like he would take a sit behind favourite Elite Takes All (Vlad Duric), but with the latter not pressing forward, Azhar decided to take matters in his hands and dictate instead.
The Malaysian veteran jockey explained that, to him, was the winning move.
"I thought No 5 (Elite Takes All) would lead from his inside gate, but he was not that fast," said Malaysia's multiple-champion jockey.
"That's why I just let my horse roll along. I just gave him a breather midrace and when I asked him to go in the straight, he responded very well.
"I know this horse well and I had plenty of horse underneath me when we came into the straight. He's come back very good after the spell."
Walker concurred with the rider about the Synthetic Stable-owned galloper having improved on his physique after the break, but cautioned he still has a few kinks to be ironed out.
"We gave him a nice break and he's come back stronger. The only thing about him is I wished he relaxed in his run," said the New Zealander.
"That will be even more so as he goes up in grade as they go quicker. He can get on the bridle a fair bit."
Mighty Conqueror has now pushed his takings past the $110,000 mark for the Malaysian-based Synthetic Stable, which is better known for racing another smart stablemate of Mighty Conqueror's, Hello Michelle. -STC
The Patapan four-year-old was resuming after showing handy form with two wins and two thirds from four starts all run over 1200m last year.
From a good gate in three and with champion jockey Azhar Ismail in the irons, he was always going to get solid support, and the second favourite ($17) certainly did not disappoint when he beat off challenges to relegate Effortless (John Powell) to second place 1 ¾ lengths away with stablemate Champagne Rein (Gerald Mosse) third another three parts of a length away.
Mighty Conqueror jumped fairly and looked like he would take a sit behind favourite Elite Takes All (Vlad Duric), but with the latter not pressing forward, Azhar decided to take matters in his hands and dictate instead.
The Malaysian veteran jockey explained that, to him, was the winning move.
"I thought No 5 (Elite Takes All) would lead from his inside gate, but he was not that fast," said Malaysia's multiple-champion jockey.
"That's why I just let my horse roll along. I just gave him a breather midrace and when I asked him to go in the straight, he responded very well.
"I know this horse well and I had plenty of horse underneath me when we came into the straight. He's come back very good after the spell."
Walker concurred with the rider about the Synthetic Stable-owned galloper having improved on his physique after the break, but cautioned he still has a few kinks to be ironed out.
"We gave him a nice break and he's come back stronger. The only thing about him is I wished he relaxed in his run," said the New Zealander.
"That will be even more so as he goes up in grade as they go quicker. He can get on the bridle a fair bit."
Mighty Conqueror has now pushed his takings past the $110,000 mark for the Malaysian-based Synthetic Stable, which is better known for racing another smart stablemate of Mighty Conqueror's, Hello Michelle. -STC