Singapore Turf Club
Visiting Australian jockey Daniel Moor steered the James Peters-trained Skywalk (NZ) (Battle Paint) to back-to-back wins in the S$125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m at his second visit to Singapore on Sunday.
Licensed by Racing Victoria, the 33-year-old who rides frequently for the China Horse Club, was invited by Peters.
The Warrnambool-born jockey was at his third ride for Peters. Skywalk, a last-start winner in a Class 3 race over 1000m on October 29, after Arc Triumph and Buenos Aires ran fourth earlier, determined to hit the jackpot this time.
The winning time on the Polytrack over 1200m was a new class record of 1min 10.48secs, slightly bettering Rocket Man’s old record time of 1min 10.63 in 2011, albeit the latter had a back-breaking weight of 59.5kg while Skywalk enjoyed a feather load of 51.5kg (Moor rode half over).
“This horse put the writing on the wall last start in quick time. He’s got a little bit of a future here.
“He sort of just pushed back and put himself in his spot, and he travelled well and he gave a solid kick for me.
“I am very thankful to the Singapore Turf Club for giving me the opportunity to come here and ride a winner.
“It’s amazing and it’s a feather to my cap, and I’m really appreciative.”
Peters was equally happy for Moor, and said that the big plan next-up for the China Horse Club-owned Skywalk will be the Group 3 New Year Cup next year.
“We had a really nice gate, and we had a beautiful run round, just behind the leaders,” said the second-year trainer who was at his 34th win.
“He travelled really well throughout, and he stuck it out even when he got challenged by Super Fortune.
“He’s (Moor) worked hard to get down to the 51 (kg), and he got him on a perfect ride, and it’s good to see him get a winner.
“The New Year Cup is next for Skywalk. It’s the perfect race for him.”
The traditional curtain raiser for the new year, the S$200,000 New Year Cup will see its distance reduced from 1900m to 1200m for the first time, a nice fit for promising sprinter Skywalk. -STC