Majestic Moments
Singapore Turf Club
A drop back to the mile coupled with a switch to a quieter riding style paved the way to Majestic Moments bouncing back to the winner's circle on Sunday.
Ridden by Nooresh Juglall, the Darci Brahma four-year-old was being hailed as the winner at his last run after he came off a handy spot to hit the front, but was found out by the 1800m trip to finish fourth.
Given his short burst, trainer Patrick Shaw and Juglall concurred it might be a better idea to drop the anchor at the back and let him run home late in Sunday's$125,000 Why Be 2007 Stakes, a Kranji Stakes A race over 1600m.
That blueprint hit paydirt when Juglall settled Majestic Moments at the rear of the 10-horse field ahead of just two runners before circling out three wide to be within striking distance upon straightening.
"He needed a race like that, back to his favourite trip, the mile," said Shaw.
"We tried him over further and we probably raced him too close to the pace. Manoel rode him a treat in the Fortune Bowl, but he was found out by the distance (2000m).
"At his last run, it was the same story, he moved like a winner but just got tired in the last bit.
"Nooresh rode a brilliant race on him today. Switch him off and wait for the last 300m and that's the way to ride him.
"That doesn't mean he won't go up in trip again. We'll just have to see how things pan out, but we will still keep the (Singapore) Derby as a target for him; the Patron's Bowl (1600m) is definitely for him.
"The key is to just ride him as quiet as possible, even stone motherless last, and let him loose in the last 200m."
The Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge kicks off with the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1400m) on May 29 before moving to the Group 1 Patron's Bowl (1600m) on June 19and the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 10.
Juglall has forged a solid partnership with the Tmen Stable-owned gelding having now ridden him to five of his tally of seven wins, including at their debuts, for both horse and jockey. After an injury-plagued start to the season, that 10-out-of-10 ride could not have come at a better time for the Mauritian jockey, especially after his licence was this week renewed till the end of the year.
"Last time, we sat handy and when I pulled him out, he just didn't have enough to fire up. Pat and I discussed and we thought he'd have a better chance if he goes to the back of the field.
"He did it in a great way. He has only a short burst but I was able to time it better this time; he ran on real good, my goggles even flew off!"
With that seventh win, Majestic Moments has now taken his stakes earnings past the $460,000 mark for the Tmen Stable of the Yong family. He was a $115,000 purchase from the draft of The Oaks Stud at the 2013 NZB Premier Sale.
Ridden by Nooresh Juglall, the Darci Brahma four-year-old was being hailed as the winner at his last run after he came off a handy spot to hit the front, but was found out by the 1800m trip to finish fourth.
Given his short burst, trainer Patrick Shaw and Juglall concurred it might be a better idea to drop the anchor at the back and let him run home late in Sunday's$125,000 Why Be 2007 Stakes, a Kranji Stakes A race over 1600m.
That blueprint hit paydirt when Juglall settled Majestic Moments at the rear of the 10-horse field ahead of just two runners before circling out three wide to be within striking distance upon straightening.
"He needed a race like that, back to his favourite trip, the mile," said Shaw.
"We tried him over further and we probably raced him too close to the pace. Manoel rode him a treat in the Fortune Bowl, but he was found out by the distance (2000m).
"At his last run, it was the same story, he moved like a winner but just got tired in the last bit.
"Nooresh rode a brilliant race on him today. Switch him off and wait for the last 300m and that's the way to ride him.
"That doesn't mean he won't go up in trip again. We'll just have to see how things pan out, but we will still keep the (Singapore) Derby as a target for him; the Patron's Bowl (1600m) is definitely for him.
"The key is to just ride him as quiet as possible, even stone motherless last, and let him loose in the last 200m."
The Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge kicks off with the Group 2 Stewards' Cup (1400m) on May 29 before moving to the Group 1 Patron's Bowl (1600m) on June 19and the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 10.
Juglall has forged a solid partnership with the Tmen Stable-owned gelding having now ridden him to five of his tally of seven wins, including at their debuts, for both horse and jockey. After an injury-plagued start to the season, that 10-out-of-10 ride could not have come at a better time for the Mauritian jockey, especially after his licence was this week renewed till the end of the year.
"Last time, we sat handy and when I pulled him out, he just didn't have enough to fire up. Pat and I discussed and we thought he'd have a better chance if he goes to the back of the field.
"He did it in a great way. He has only a short burst but I was able to time it better this time; he ran on real good, my goggles even flew off!"
With that seventh win, Majestic Moments has now taken his stakes earnings past the $460,000 mark for the Tmen Stable of the Yong family. He was a $115,000 purchase from the draft of The Oaks Stud at the 2013 NZB Premier Sale.