Singapore Turf Club
Manoel Nunes pulled the wrong rein when he picked Siam Sapphire (NZ) (Showcasing) over eventual winner Mystic Master in the 2016 Juvenile Championship, but that did not mean he had consigned him to the bin, with the happy reunion one year later leading to a smashing win in Friday’s last race.
Recently transferred from James Peters to Michael Clements, the now a four-year-old, certainly gave the three-time Singapore champion jockey the same familiar feeling that got him to plump for him in the two-year-old feature when he came with a withering run at the 400m mark of the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1200m.
Never far from the leading bunch, Siam Sapphire was immediately hailed as the winner when he loomed large with a big run at the top of the straight. Favourite Legendary Sun did offer some resistance, but once Nunes asked for the supreme effort, the race was all over.
Siam Sapphire motored home to go and record a 1 ¾-length win from Legendary Sun with Preferred third another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 11.41secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
“I remember that horse very well when he was a baby with James Peters. I knew he had a lot of ability, and I even jumped off Alwin Tan’s horse (Mystic Master) to ride him in the Juvenile Championship,” said Nunes.
“It did not work out and he had some issues after that, but I’m very pleased I got back on him tonight. They took off the blinkers and he won very impressively.
“It’s true he also had a light weight (54kgs) and he was always travelling very well. He had a lovely run in fourth position behind the leaders.
“I’m also very pleased to ride a winner for the Thai owners (Pupetch Racing Stable). They have a lot of horses with different trainers and I’ve enjoyed some success with them.
“It’s great they support me and I thank them for putting me back on this horse. He’s got very good ability and from the way he won tonight, they will have a lot of fun with him.”
His new handler was also delighted with success coming his way at his very first outing for him.
“I’ve watched his early runs, and obviously, we knew he was a strong well put-together horse,” said the Zimbabwean-born conditioner.
“He showed some promise as a two-year-old and I remember he ran in very good company like Jupiter Gold in the past (second to the Hideyuki Takaoka-trained gelding last October).
“He’s done really well from an outside barrier (11) and Manoel rode him very well in behind runners. I think he will get seven furlongs and even up to a mile.”
Siam Sapphire was purchased for $125,000 from the Haunui Farm draft at New Zealand Bloodstocks 2015 Select Sale and has now taken his stakes earnings close to the $120,000 mark for the Pupetch Racing Stable after just his second win. -STC