Gilt Complex
Singapore Turf Club
After Gilt Complex's last win came over 2200m last November, a drop back to 1400m looked on the sharp side, but the New Zealand-bred showed his versatility with a brilliant win in the $80,000 Class 3 race on Sunday.
The Gold Centre five-year-old was even considered a Singapore Gold Cup hopeful last year, but unfortunately missed the cut.
Trainer Cliff Brown has since given the Graham Mackie-trained galloper a break only to bring him back for that race, which he eventually claimed by storming right on the outside under new partner Michael Rodd to defeat the better-fancied Skywalk (Vlad Duric) by three-quarter length at lukewarm odds of $69.
Gilt Complex's stablemate Magstock (Glen Boss) powered home late to grab third place another three-quarter length away. The winning time was 1min 21.53secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
"He's a lovely horse (Gilt Complex). We put him away after his last run and he has come back stronger," said Brown.
"I haven't planned anything for him yet, but he'll win a good race one day."
Rodd said the best way to approach the race was to treat it was over a mile.
"I made it more of a mile race and it's paid off," said the Australian jockey.
"It was a smart field, but he's also been racing against better horses before. He's a quality horse.
"I thought the weight difference between him and Skywalk (2.5kgs) would make it tough for us, but he dug deep and went past Skywalk quite well."
Gilt Complex now boasts a handy record of five wins and five placings from 17 starts for stakes earnings that have now shot past the $270,000 mark for Mackie
The Gold Centre five-year-old was even considered a Singapore Gold Cup hopeful last year, but unfortunately missed the cut.
Trainer Cliff Brown has since given the Graham Mackie-trained galloper a break only to bring him back for that race, which he eventually claimed by storming right on the outside under new partner Michael Rodd to defeat the better-fancied Skywalk (Vlad Duric) by three-quarter length at lukewarm odds of $69.
Gilt Complex's stablemate Magstock (Glen Boss) powered home late to grab third place another three-quarter length away. The winning time was 1min 21.53secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
"He's a lovely horse (Gilt Complex). We put him away after his last run and he has come back stronger," said Brown.
"I haven't planned anything for him yet, but he'll win a good race one day."
Rodd said the best way to approach the race was to treat it was over a mile.
"I made it more of a mile race and it's paid off," said the Australian jockey.
"It was a smart field, but he's also been racing against better horses before. He's a quality horse.
"I thought the weight difference between him and Skywalk (2.5kgs) would make it tough for us, but he dug deep and went past Skywalk quite well."
Gilt Complex now boasts a handy record of five wins and five placings from 17 starts for stakes earnings that have now shot past the $270,000 mark for Mackie