Singapore Turf Club
Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock) achieved a rare Singapore Derby-Kranji Mile double after he came with a sustained run to take out the $700,000 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) on Sunday ahead of Countofmontecristo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) and Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park).
The Tavistock five-year-old had actually not raced since Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) triumph back in July, meaning he pulled off the remarkable feat with no runs in between.
The last horse to do the Singapore Derby-Kranji Mile double was the Laurie Laxon-trained and Noel Callow-ridden Top Spin in 2008.
Trainer Alwin Tan, who was at his second Panasonic Kranji Mile win after War Affair (NZ) (O'Reilly) landed the first Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series back in 2014, was effusive in his praise of the versatile Thai-owned galloper at the post-race celebrations.
“Full credit to my team, the jockey and also the Thai owner who keeps supporting me, and today is our lucky day,” he said.
“This horse has such a big heart. Back on the 1600m after the Derby, I put the blinkers back on to sharpen him up a little.
“We didn’t want to force him, we didn’t want him to go too hard to the front and it’s paid off.”
Nunes said he had a good hunch he might be on a potential winner shortly after he jumped off Infantry following his winning barrier trial on September 21.
“I’m very happy. He’s a very good horse and can run any distance from 1200m to 1800m,” said Nunes who was at his first Panasonic Kranji Mile success.
“After his trial, when I came back, I was very happy as the horse was so well. Alwin and his boys have done a good job with him.
Tan had always believed Infantry would turn into a handy stayer even if his early career was forged over sprint races. Unsurprisingly, last year’s Singapore champion trainer is eyeing off the ultimate prize in staying races in November.
“He’ll definitely run in the Raffles Cup, and if he keeps doing well, we will look at the Triple Crown,” he said.
The second Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series is the Raffles Cup (1800m) on October 22 while the grand final is the Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on November 12. No horse has yet to complete the Triple Crown, with Tan coming close in 2014 with War Affair sweeping the first two Legs before coming up short at the last Leg.
With that ninth win from only 20 starts, Infantry, has now amassed close to $1.8 million in prizemoney.
Bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan of Cambridge Stud, Infantry was sold for $7000 as a weanling at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock weanling, broodmare and mixed bloodstock sale. He was later purchased out of Darrel Lang's stable by Cambridge bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo for his Singapore owners after impressing when trialling as a two-year-old.