Singapore Turf Club
In a nail-biting drive to the wire, Gilt Complex (NZ) (Gold Centre) snuck up on the inside to poke his nose in front where it mattered in the $1.35 million Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) on Sunday.
By landing the third and final Leg of the Singapore Triple Crown series, six-year-old, who captured the second Leg, the Raffles Cup (1800m) three weeks earlier, also took home a bonus of $50,000.
After coming close a few times, trainer Cliff Brown was savouring his first victory in the time-honoured race, which was incidentally the last of its kind being run over 2200m as it will be shortened to 2000m from next year onwards.
Long touted as a trainer of stayers, even back in Australia where he holds the record of most South Australian Derbies – three, Brown was his usual self-effacing self at the winner’s circle, but did admit that winning the most coveted race at his new stomping ground in the last 10 years was a moment he would treasure forever.
“It means a great deal to win the Singapore Gold Cup, especially after I’ve had a few placings in that race,” said Brown whose closest placings include Deep Pockets’ third and Tenzing’s fourth in the 2012 renewal won by Better Life.
“The kids at home will be rapt. I was like a kid myself when they called for the photo, I was walking up and down, up and down, and I let out a big roar when No 2 went up.”
Brown was actually plumping for another horse inside the last furlong of the staying test – Elite Excalibur, the much-vaunted former Coolmore stayer from the Gai Waterhouse yard who was being the hailed the winner when he came locking horns with last year’s winner Bahana (NZ) (Elusive City).
At that juncture, favourite Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock) was running on courage. In spite of all his will, the Tavistock five-year-old just could not find that extra length in the straight, while Gilt Complex also seemed to be making heavy weather of it one-and-a-half-length astern of stablemate Elite Excalibur.
Just when gold was being tossed up between two horses, Gilt Complex, who had bronze around his neck then, suddenly turned into a live contender as Rodd came up with the brilliant inspiration to steer back to the inside running rails.
Maybe it was the uninterrupted run that suddenly resurfaced for him, but Gilt Complex grew another leg when it mattered as he lunged at the line to make it a three-way photo right at the death.
One did not need to have infrared vision, but it was quite obvious Elite Excalibur on the outside was out of the equation for first place, but the judge still had to hand out the final verdict between Bahana and Gilt Complex for one of the tightest finishes to the Gold Cup ever seen in decades.
The proverbial pimple split the pair in the end, with Elite Excalibur having to settle for third another short head away. Majestic Moments ran fourth another 2 ¼ lengths away, 1 ½ lengths clear of a gallant Infantry, who unfortunately was one of a few horses who got caught in the backwash when Newlands took a bad check at the 600m and quickly lost ground to run last.
Sent out as the second favourite, Gilt Complex completed the 2200m trip in 2min 14.37secs to bring up his eighth win at Kranji for New Zealand owners Graham Mackie and Trish Dunell for stakes earnings that have now edged past the S$1.5 million mark.
“Michael said he found a second wind at the 600m, I actually thought he wouldn’t stay the trip,” said Brown.
“Elite Excalibur was fantastic, but Bahana is such a natural stayer. It was a fantastic result.”
Rodd, who is at his third season in Singapore and has already captured big races such as the Emirates Singapore Derby, the Panasonic Kranji Mile, the Raffles Cup, the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge Triple Crown, can now add the Dester Singapore Gold Cup to his glowing resume.
Usually the epitome of coolness at the winner’s circle, the Australian jockey could barely keep his composure this time around as the enormity of having won the Singapore Gold Cup took a while to sink in.
“I thought he was gone at the 600m. I was just tacking up behind the horse in front and I thought I would run a nice fourth,” said Rodd.
“But he found another gear when I took him to the fence, he was just pushing himself to get there and it’s just so amazing to win the Gold Cup.
“I’m lost for words. I’ve been so lucky winning all the big races, earlier on for Laurie Laxon with Stepitup, then there was Well Done, Debt Collector for Cliff and now this, the Gold Cup – for Cliff again.
Gilt Complex was a $10,000 purchase at the Festival session of the 2013 NZB national Yearling Sale from the Newmarket Lodge draft. -STC