Singapore Turf Club
Exciting galloper Distinctive Darci (NZ) overcame a few traffic problems to gain the upperhand at the right time in the S$250,000 Korea Racing Authority Trophy (1200m) on Sunday.
The talented three-year-old was facing a stiffer task measuring up against a higher benchmark at level weights, but from the way he burst through once he found daylight, there is every chance trainer Mark Walker and owner Dato Terry Lee have found themselves an above-average horse.
From the start, the son of Darci Brahma looked bogged down amongst a bunch of runners at the rear, and seemingly running into dead ends every time he tried to find a way out.
The $14 favourite’s only chance then resided in the way the leaders headed by Darc Bounty had gone like the clappers from the start. Surely, they would have to come back, but Duric was still riding on a wing and a prayer as the field swung for home.
Darc Bounty tried to rally again, as he had done so expeditiously against weaker opposition in the past, but soon threw in the towel this time around.
The swoopers did not wait long to make their presence felt. Pioneer Seven looked in full flight as he swept to the front with Daniel in hot pursuit.
But the moment Distinctive Darci found a gap at the 250m, the rip-roaring engine under the bonnet was finally able to be let loose. In one fell swoop, Distinctive Darci gobbled up the leaders one by one, before staving off a late charge from $109 longshot Laser Storm to go and fall in by half-a-length.
Daniel peaked on his run to finish third another 1 ¾ lengths away, one nose ahead of Pioneer Seven. The winning time was 1min 10.95secs for the 1200m journey on the Polytrack.
With Walker away at the Gold Coast, it was assistant-trainer Gus Clutterbuck who did the honours at the prize presentation.
“They went really hard and that suited him. I was not really worried he was so far back behind horses as he is a horse who runs better when he comes to the outside,” said the Kiwi horseman.
“Vlad knows that, too, and things worked out well in the end. Mark has done a marvellous job with him.
“He was aimed at the 3YO races but we put him away after he had some problems with his heels. For him to win second-up a race like this, it was a great effort.”
Popular owner Dato Terry Lee, who has raced many good horses such as Bocelli and The Mighty Finn over the years, was excited.
“It’s amazing the way he won today. He had nowhere to go, but he still came out and beat older horses – and at level weights,” he said.
“What a top class ride by Vlad as well!”
Duric, who was only at his second partnership with Distinctive Darci, the first being at his comeback run from a four-month spell when they dismantled a Class 3 field only a fortnight ago, was simply blown away by the way the smart gelding lengthened up once he grabbed his get-out-of-jail card.
“At his first prep, this horse showed a lot of ability and then had a nice break,” said the current leading jockey.
“Today was a step-up in grade and we had to overcome some adversity with so many horses around us. We just couldn’t find a way out.
“I had to wait and wait, hoping to get around horses, and once he got the break, I knew he would win. He’s got such a good turn of foot.”
With that sixth win from 12 starts, Distinctive Darci has swollen his bank account past the $380,000 mark for the Fairdeal Stable. -STC