By Alan Carasso
Being a full-brother to former two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year and dual international Group 1 winner Ambitious Dragon (NZ), there have always been high expectations for Chopin's Fantaisie (NZ) (Pins {Aus}), and the progressive sophomore continued his rise through the ranks with a trouble-filled victory on Monday's holiday program at Singapore's Kranji Racecourse.
Sent off the even-money favorite to win for the third time in as many trips to the post, the attractive bay gelding poked through at the inside and was third into the turn on the long course, but from a long way out, it was clear that racing luck was going to play a role in the outcome. A joint third off the final corner, Chopin's Fantaisie appeared to have room three off the inside at the 450m, but the gap vanished and he remained bottled up behind a trio of front-runners. Held up again with a furlong and a half to run, he finally found the running room he was crying out for at the sixteenth pole and burst through en route to a half-length success (video).
“He was always travelling very well. It was just a matter of getting an opening,” winning trainer Michael Clements told Singapore Turf Club's Michael Lee. “Fortunately, it came and he did the rest after that. From the way he was still full of running at the end, he is looking to go over further. I will probably also step him up to a higher class. Clearly, he is a very competitive horse.”
Bred by E. P. Lowry from the Oregon mare Golden Gamble (NZ), Chopin's Fantaisie was purchased by Clements for NZ$150,000 out of the 2016 NZB Premier Yearling Sale. After missing in consecutive seasons when returned to Pins, Golden Gamble was most recently covered by Waikato Stud's Rock 'N' Pop (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).
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