Nova Warrior
If there is one dynamic duo that seems to be bombproof these days - literally come rain or shine - it is certainly that of Nova Warrior and Shafiq Rizuan.
Already a winning partnership at four of the Bachelor Duke four-year-old's previous five wins, sparks again flew on Sunday in the $80,000 Japan Racing Association Trophy, a Kranji Stakes C race over 1100m.
If one considers the factors stacked against them, that fifth hurrah can arguably become their finest moment together.
The first hurdle the New Zealand-bred had to overcome was the other speed merchant in the race, Secret Mission (Wong Chin Chuen).
Shafiq wisely decided to drop the throttle and match motors. But when the former two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey decided it was time to go, the home straight must have then looked endless.
Under the heavy downpour, his already back-breaking 59.5kgs probably felt like the Grandstand, but it wasn't just the pelting rain that was descending on him thick and fast inside the last furlong.
As hard as Nova Warrior tried, he could not quite flush out the gaggle of swoopers baying for his blood, none more frightening than Ghost (Chan Wei Sheng) appearing out of thin air.
But as he has often done when the chips are down, Tan's gelding lived up to his name by warding Ghost ($133) off by a neck with Supersonicsurprise (Alan Munro) third another 1 ΒΌ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 5.39secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
The win incidentally gave Tan a training double (won with Rich Fortune a race earlier).
Tan said he thought the Nova Racing Stable-owned galloper was in for a tough time when the heavens opened.
"He had to carry 60 to 61kgs with the rain. You seldom see a horse win at Kranji with such a big weight," said Tan.
"This horse has all of a sudden hit top form and I told the owner there was no need to use an apprentice and take a chance. Shafiq knows him best and he again did a great job."