By Alan Carasso
Over the last handful of seasons, future Singapore horses of the year Super Easy (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), War Affair (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and Stepitup (Aus) (Hussonet) swept the local 3-year-old series en route. With his victory in Friday's Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic, Countofmontecristo is poised to join that elite group if he can add the Singapore Guineas (1600m) in four weeks' time.
The second betting selection behind Jupiter Gold, Countofmontecristo jumped alertly beneath Glen Boss and ultimately landed in the one-out and one-back position as a strong pace developed just ahead of him. Nicely covered up on the turn, he came out at the top of the long stretch and was asked for an effort somewhat prematurely as Sir Isaac (Aus) (Dream Ahead) came with a menacing run. But Countofmontecristo had that move covered and was always holding a rails rally from Could Be Pearls. Jupiter Gold, exiting a defeat of reigning Horse of the Year and Classic series champ Debt Collector (NZ) (Thorn Park {Aus}), was dragged back to the rear, advanced on the turn, switched out and sprinted well, but too late.
“Every time he has come out for me, he has become more and more of a proper horse,” commented Boss. “He is a lot more relaxed now, like he has learned to relax his muscles a lot better. Today, he was very relaxed when we got a good spot with cover, but when I saw Sir Isaac kick up on our inside at the top of the straight, I told myself we could not afford to let a horse like Sir Isaac take two lengths on us as he would be hard to peg back.”
Countofmontecristo is campaigned by Joe Singh, who's been down this road before with Gingerbread Man (Aus) (Shamardal), who ran the table in 2011.
“I've got a bloodstock agent in New Zealand who buys my horses, Regan Donnison, and he's the one who chose Countofmontecristo for me,” said Singh. “The horse was well trained by Michael and was well ridden by Boss. It was a great team effort. I hope he can do what Gingerbread Man did in 2011.”
Pedigree Notes:
The winner's sire, an Encosta de Lago (Aus) half-brother to Redoute's Choice (Aus), won the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas and was runner-up in the G1 South Australian Derby in 2011 while under the care of Mick Price. Echoes of Heaven resides at Linwood Park Stud in New Zealand Countofmontecristo was purchased for NZ$57,500 out of the 2015 NZB Ready to Run Sale after breezing up a furlong in :11.29. Replicate is the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Any Suggestion (Aus) and a weanling filly by Linwood inmate Ekraar. She was most recently covered by Zacinto (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart or sectional timing. VIDEO.
Friday, Kranji, Singapore
SINGAPORE THREE-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC, S$350,000 (£200,145/€235,787/A$330,396), 3yo, 1400mT, 1:22.19, gd.
1–COUNTOFMONTECRISTO (NZ), 126, g, 3, by Echoes of Heaven (Aus)
1st Dam: Replicate (NZ), by Towkay (Aus)
2nd Dam: Replica (NZ), by Creag-an-Sgor (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rakhri (NZ), by In the Purple (Fr)
(NZ$57,500 2yo '15 NZBRTR). O-Joe Singh; B-B F, Mrs H J & P J Crofskey; T-Michael Clements; J-Glen Boss; S$208,250. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, S$465,705.
2–Could Be Pearls (NZ), 126, g, 3, Alamosa (NZ)–Miss Kitt Ann (NZ), by Tale of the Cat. (NZ$80,000 Ylg '15 NZBPRE). O-Barree Stable. S$74,375.
3–Jupiter Gold (Aus), 126, r, 3, Congrats–Contented (Aus), by More Than Ready. (A$130,000 Ylg '15 MMGCYS). O-Jupiter Gold Stable. S$37,625.
Margins: HF, 1 1/4, 1. Odds: 2.20, 21.40, 0.90.
Also Ran: Sir Isaac (Aus), Deimos (NZ), Mr Fatkid (NZ), Draco (NZ), Makanani (Jpn), Splinter (Aus), Macarthur (Aus), Golden Thunder (Ire). Scratched: Skywalk (NZ).
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