Best Tothelign
Singapore Turf Club
Group winner Best Tothelign (NZ) (Align) resumed from a five-month break an imposing winner in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1400m on Sunday to bring up a three-in-a-row.
The Align five-year-old - who scored an all-the-way-win at his previous start in a Polytrack mile race - had not raced since he dead-heated with Order Of The Sun in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1700m) last December, a first 'black type' win which unfortunately did not come without a price.
The 5yo gelding Best Tothelign had some leg issues post-race and trainer Shane Baertschiger had to back him off. But when the time came for him to get back in the thick of the action, there were no suitable races for him.
They had to hold off the comeback until Sunday's race, and even then the 1400m on turf was not exactly the strongest suit for the Polytrack specialist (six of his seven wins were recorded on the alternative track) and 1200m would have been a kinder trip first-up.
Baertschiger could not keep him any longer in a box and winged it, and was rewarded for the gamble.
"I wished I had more of him in my stable. Fifth is his worst finish in 19 starts, and on that day he had excuses as he was three wide," said Baertschiger.
"He's honest and has a great will to win. He had a few problems, especially after he did his legs after his dead-heat last December, but I'm glad he's bounced back to his best.
"He got a great ride today and it's good for the owners headed by Danny Chua. They deserve a good horse like him.
"That win on turf also shows he is not just a one-trick pony. It sure gives us more options on turf, but I haven't planned any big races for him at this stage."
Jockey Matthew Kellady said he was mindful of not pressuring his mount in the early stages given he was back from a spell, and was pleasantly surprised by his response coming into the stretch to the winning post.
"As it was his first run from a spell, I didn't want to push him early, just take a sit. Stretch said at worse sit outside the leader," said Kellady.
"He was travelling so well and I had plenty underneath me. When I peeled him out at the 600m, he was just ready to go."
After settling in an one-out one-back spot, Best Tothelign indeed stamped his superiority in a way not many had suspected the $52 shot would before the race.
Best Tothelign scored by one and one-quarter length from Spanish Bay with Believe Yourself having to content herself with third place another head away. The winning time was a smart 1min 21.74secs for the 1400m on the Short Course, the same time run by Groenewegen in a Class 4 race earlier.
With that eighth win, Best Tothelign has now amassed close to $460,000 for the MA Racing Stable.
The Align five-year-old - who scored an all-the-way-win at his previous start in a Polytrack mile race - had not raced since he dead-heated with Order Of The Sun in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1700m) last December, a first 'black type' win which unfortunately did not come without a price.
The 5yo gelding Best Tothelign had some leg issues post-race and trainer Shane Baertschiger had to back him off. But when the time came for him to get back in the thick of the action, there were no suitable races for him.
They had to hold off the comeback until Sunday's race, and even then the 1400m on turf was not exactly the strongest suit for the Polytrack specialist (six of his seven wins were recorded on the alternative track) and 1200m would have been a kinder trip first-up.
Baertschiger could not keep him any longer in a box and winged it, and was rewarded for the gamble.
"I wished I had more of him in my stable. Fifth is his worst finish in 19 starts, and on that day he had excuses as he was three wide," said Baertschiger.
"He's honest and has a great will to win. He had a few problems, especially after he did his legs after his dead-heat last December, but I'm glad he's bounced back to his best.
"He got a great ride today and it's good for the owners headed by Danny Chua. They deserve a good horse like him.
"That win on turf also shows he is not just a one-trick pony. It sure gives us more options on turf, but I haven't planned any big races for him at this stage."
Jockey Matthew Kellady said he was mindful of not pressuring his mount in the early stages given he was back from a spell, and was pleasantly surprised by his response coming into the stretch to the winning post.
"As it was his first run from a spell, I didn't want to push him early, just take a sit. Stretch said at worse sit outside the leader," said Kellady.
"He was travelling so well and I had plenty underneath me. When I peeled him out at the 600m, he was just ready to go."
After settling in an one-out one-back spot, Best Tothelign indeed stamped his superiority in a way not many had suspected the $52 shot would before the race.
Best Tothelign scored by one and one-quarter length from Spanish Bay with Believe Yourself having to content herself with third place another head away. The winning time was a smart 1min 21.74secs for the 1400m on the Short Course, the same time run by Groenewegen in a Class 4 race earlier.
With that eighth win, Best Tothelign has now amassed close to $460,000 for the MA Racing Stable.
