Rich Fortune
Singapore Turf Club
Trainer Alwin Tan is bringing Rich Fortune back on the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge trail following his gallant win on Sunday.
The son of Keeper dodged the first Leg, the Group 3 Dester Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on March 27, in favour of an easier Benchmark 67 race over 1000m in which he ran second to Eatons Gold. Tan actually made away with the first Leg with one of his trio of runners, albeit the least-fancied, Conflight.
But from the way Rich Fortune ($26) outbattled his rivals in Sunday's $75,000 Royal Western India Turf Club Trophy, a Graduation race over 1100m, Tan could not possibly leave Mr Chua Kang Lim's horse out of the draft for the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 24.
"It was a tough field, but I wanted to put him in a stronger race if he were to run in the 3YO Challenge," said Tan.
"On today's run, I would think he can go for the 1400m leg though it is still hard to decide who will be my final team. At this stage, Conflight and Infantry are running, and you would have to join Rich Fortune to the list on today's run, while for Nova Strike, I still have to decide.
"At his (Rich Fortune) last start, he could have won but he was crowded a little and could not peg back the winner. Today, Manoel had him in a great spot and he had a clear run throughout."
Nunes said there was not much of Rich Fortune but his strong will to win did the job, even if his first impression of him in trackwork had left plenty to be desired.
"He's not very big but he has a big heart, and he always tries 100%," said the Brazilian jockey.
"I worked him on Tuesday and I told Alwin he didn't show much but he told me not to worry as he's lazy and does his best on raceday.
"Alwin told me he was a horse who needs to get on the bridle early and that he only has a short dash. That was why it was important to have him in a handy spot early.
"The grey filly (War Citi) is also a very good horse, as is the other horse on the outside (Rosellu), but my horse never gave up. He's so small but he just stuck his neck out and really toughed it out.
"I think he deserves his chance at the second Leg but I'm not sure about the 1400m."
Rich Fortune settled in an one-out one-back position before launching at the top of the straight. War Citi (Corey Brown) who was resuming since her debut win in January darted off along the rails, but soon had Rich Fortune and Roselli (Alan Munro) issuing their challenges.
War Citi dug deep, but probably needing the run, folded inside the last 100m with Rich Fortune getting the upperhand to score by a neck from Roselli who himself pipped War City for second by a head. The winning time was 1min 5.95secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
"I'm very happy with her run. She was first-up against horses who were much fitter than her," said War Citi's trainer John O'Hara.
"She will improve a lot from that run."
The son of Keeper dodged the first Leg, the Group 3 Dester Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on March 27, in favour of an easier Benchmark 67 race over 1000m in which he ran second to Eatons Gold. Tan actually made away with the first Leg with one of his trio of runners, albeit the least-fancied, Conflight.
But from the way Rich Fortune ($26) outbattled his rivals in Sunday's $75,000 Royal Western India Turf Club Trophy, a Graduation race over 1100m, Tan could not possibly leave Mr Chua Kang Lim's horse out of the draft for the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 24.
"It was a tough field, but I wanted to put him in a stronger race if he were to run in the 3YO Challenge," said Tan.
"On today's run, I would think he can go for the 1400m leg though it is still hard to decide who will be my final team. At this stage, Conflight and Infantry are running, and you would have to join Rich Fortune to the list on today's run, while for Nova Strike, I still have to decide.
"At his (Rich Fortune) last start, he could have won but he was crowded a little and could not peg back the winner. Today, Manoel had him in a great spot and he had a clear run throughout."
Nunes said there was not much of Rich Fortune but his strong will to win did the job, even if his first impression of him in trackwork had left plenty to be desired.
"He's not very big but he has a big heart, and he always tries 100%," said the Brazilian jockey.
"I worked him on Tuesday and I told Alwin he didn't show much but he told me not to worry as he's lazy and does his best on raceday.
"Alwin told me he was a horse who needs to get on the bridle early and that he only has a short dash. That was why it was important to have him in a handy spot early.
"The grey filly (War Citi) is also a very good horse, as is the other horse on the outside (Rosellu), but my horse never gave up. He's so small but he just stuck his neck out and really toughed it out.
"I think he deserves his chance at the second Leg but I'm not sure about the 1400m."
Rich Fortune settled in an one-out one-back position before launching at the top of the straight. War Citi (Corey Brown) who was resuming since her debut win in January darted off along the rails, but soon had Rich Fortune and Roselli (Alan Munro) issuing their challenges.
War Citi dug deep, but probably needing the run, folded inside the last 100m with Rich Fortune getting the upperhand to score by a neck from Roselli who himself pipped War City for second by a head. The winning time was 1min 5.95secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
"I'm very happy with her run. She was first-up against horses who were much fitter than her," said War Citi's trainer John O'Hara.
"She will improve a lot from that run."