Debt Collector
Singapore Turf Club
Debt Collector undeniably stamped himself as this year's best three-year-old when he unleashed a blinding acceleration at the 300m to land the $500,000 Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on Sunday.
It's that pulverising finish of the Thorn Park gelding that can blow the house down. The last of his three wins in the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m), had been particularly ominous in the way he gobbled up his adversaries in the home straight.
Adding more credit to Sunday's astounding win in the third and final Leg was the composure of his jockey Michael Rodd at the 1100m mark when longshot Special Force (Kif Toh) suddenly veered off the rails pinballing Mr Scorsese (Vlad Duric) and Little Big Man (Danny Beasley) hopelessly to the outside.
Debt Collector was luckily seeing them all at that stage and avoided any drama.
Six lengths ahead of him, Magnum (Corey Brown), who overcame a wide gate to sit handy was humming as he drew level with surprise leader Infantry (Shafiq Rizuan), shortly after straightening.
But once Rodd got Debt Collector into overdrive, the complexion of the concluding stages shifted shape in the twinkling of an eye. Debt Collector produced an electric turn of foot that saw him swallow up the pair in no time, careering away to arguably one of the most stunning finishes ever seen at Kranji.
The 3yo gelding in the end recorded a soft two-length win from a very gallant Infantry with Magnum running third another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 34.4secs for the mile on the Long Course.
Normally a picture of nonchalance after his horses win, trainer Cliff Brown was barely able to speak this time.
"I liked where he was in the race, but when they turned for home, I'd be happy if he had run third or fourth," he said.
"His last 400m was just incredible. He's a horse that doesn't excite me in trackwork but I'm really excited now.
"He will go for a much deserved break now. Hopefully he will be my Derby horse next year."
Rodd for one was more no-holds-barred in the way he waxed lyrical about Debt Collector.
"I've ridden a lot of winners all over the world, but that was one sensational win, especially as he beat a very good bunch of three-year-olds this year," said the Australian hoop.
"He began well but I had to keep chasing him early. Normally, he clocks out at the back but he just didn't want to go this time.
"Then, there was that bad incident coming off the back. Not sure what happened but I think Kif Toh's horse was pulling too hard, but the good thing is it didn't affect us.
"Suddenly he started to track into the race and when I angled him into the clear, he was closing in very well. But when I saw Magnum was quite a distance in front, I thought we had no chance.
"But his turn of foot was just out of this world. He finished so hard that he ran on top of them. He won with authority in the end."
Punted down to $16 favouritism, Debt Collector has now collected more than $530,000 in prizemoney in four wins from only seven starts, not to mention he also picked up a bonus of $50,000 for landing two Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge. Bred at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand he was sold for $30,000 at the 2014 Select Sale before being offered at the 2014 Ready to Run Sale by Prima Park, where Cliff Brown Racing picked him up for $150,000.
It's that pulverising finish of the Thorn Park gelding that can blow the house down. The last of his three wins in the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m), had been particularly ominous in the way he gobbled up his adversaries in the home straight.
Adding more credit to Sunday's astounding win in the third and final Leg was the composure of his jockey Michael Rodd at the 1100m mark when longshot Special Force (Kif Toh) suddenly veered off the rails pinballing Mr Scorsese (Vlad Duric) and Little Big Man (Danny Beasley) hopelessly to the outside.
Debt Collector was luckily seeing them all at that stage and avoided any drama.
Six lengths ahead of him, Magnum (Corey Brown), who overcame a wide gate to sit handy was humming as he drew level with surprise leader Infantry (Shafiq Rizuan), shortly after straightening.
But once Rodd got Debt Collector into overdrive, the complexion of the concluding stages shifted shape in the twinkling of an eye. Debt Collector produced an electric turn of foot that saw him swallow up the pair in no time, careering away to arguably one of the most stunning finishes ever seen at Kranji.
The 3yo gelding in the end recorded a soft two-length win from a very gallant Infantry with Magnum running third another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 34.4secs for the mile on the Long Course.
Normally a picture of nonchalance after his horses win, trainer Cliff Brown was barely able to speak this time.
"I liked where he was in the race, but when they turned for home, I'd be happy if he had run third or fourth," he said.
"His last 400m was just incredible. He's a horse that doesn't excite me in trackwork but I'm really excited now.
"He will go for a much deserved break now. Hopefully he will be my Derby horse next year."
Rodd for one was more no-holds-barred in the way he waxed lyrical about Debt Collector.
"I've ridden a lot of winners all over the world, but that was one sensational win, especially as he beat a very good bunch of three-year-olds this year," said the Australian hoop.
"He began well but I had to keep chasing him early. Normally, he clocks out at the back but he just didn't want to go this time.
"Then, there was that bad incident coming off the back. Not sure what happened but I think Kif Toh's horse was pulling too hard, but the good thing is it didn't affect us.
"Suddenly he started to track into the race and when I angled him into the clear, he was closing in very well. But when I saw Magnum was quite a distance in front, I thought we had no chance.
"But his turn of foot was just out of this world. He finished so hard that he ran on top of them. He won with authority in the end."
Punted down to $16 favouritism, Debt Collector has now collected more than $530,000 in prizemoney in four wins from only seven starts, not to mention he also picked up a bonus of $50,000 for landing two Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge. Bred at Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand he was sold for $30,000 at the 2014 Select Sale before being offered at the 2014 Ready to Run Sale by Prima Park, where Cliff Brown Racing picked him up for $150,000.