Singapore Turf Club
Classy sprinter Be Bee (NZ) (Showcasing) returned an impressive winner in the $125,000 War Affair 2014 Stakes, a Kranji Stakes A Division 2 race over 1200m on Sunday.
Not sighted since his unplaced run in the Singapore Guineas (1600m) in May, the four-year-old, who had only 51.5kgs on his back with jockey Matthew Kellady riding him one kilo over, stood out like the winner from a long way out.
Whipping around the field from the 800m, Be Bee let down with a pulsating turn of foot from the top of the straight before quickly putting his rivals to the sword in a few bounds.
Trainer Shane Baertschiger said Be Bee would be the latest addition to his already big team of runners for the Garden City Trophy (1200m) on October 21.
“He’s going for the Garden City Trophy. I’ve already got Bold Thruster, Aramco and Paparazzi in that race,” said the current leading trainer.
“I actually ran out of time for his first-up race today. He had just one trial (September 13) and I thought he would be underdone.
“But he won a brilliant race. Matty rode him a treat as well.
“Today, he was down in the weights and he was hard to beat.”
Kellady for one was glad his efforts to shed those extra pounds did not go to waste!
“I had to do it the hard way to make the weight but it was all worth it,” said the Malaysian rider.
“I’ve never ridden him in a race, but we all know what a good horse he is. You can go the extra mile for such good horses, and I’m glad it’s paid off.
“I had so much horse under me throughout the race. I just had to keep him out of trouble.
“At the 700m, I let him slide forward and I always knew I had the race won.
“He’s a horse who is always on the improve and I have no doubt he has the ability to go on to bigger and better things.”
With that fifth win added to his four placings, Be Bee has now amassed close to S$600,000 in stakes earnings for the Auric Stable. -STC