By Alan Carasso
Quechua (Arg) (Pure Prize), twice Singapore's champion stayer, called on all his class and considerable stamina to hold off his stablemate and joint 2-1 favorite Majestic Moments (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) to give trainer Pat Shaw his seventh winner over the weekend, a number that included his 800th locally.
A four-time black-type winner since his import from Argentina, including the Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) and Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m), the bay gelding was exiting a smart tally over 1600m July 17.
Away alertly from gate eight, Quechua landed in fourth position, one away from the fence and to the outside of barnmate Cooptado (Arg) (Equal Stripes) for the run down the back. Traveling supremely well with cover on the swing for home, Quechua was held together for as long as possible by Corey Brown and they led narrowly 200m from home. Majestic Moments, near the tail early, came out widest for the drive and made Quechua have to work for it, but the latter dug in doggedly for the victory. Mr Spielberg (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) closed ground up the inside to be third.
“He's a jockey's dream, I've won five group races with him now,” said Brown. “He is great to ride and he shows such tenacity and fight and a will to win that is second to none. He never gave up today even when the stablemate loomed up 100m from home. He was game and stuck his neck out.”
Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO.
CHAIRMAN'S TROPHY, S$300,000 (£170,869/€200,957/A$290,821/US$222,702), Kranji, 8-7, 3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:49.44, gd.
1–QUECHUA (ARG), 128, g, 6, Pure Prize–Queen Cabaret (Brz)
(GSP-Arg), by Wild Event. O-Avengers Stable; B-Santa Maria
de Araras; T-Patrick Shaw; J-Corey Brown; S$178,500. Lifetime
Record: 2x Ch. Stayer-Sin, GSW & G1SP-Arg, G1SP-Sin,
29-10-8-7, $1,935,315. *Full to Quatro Folhas (Arg), GSP-Arg.
2–Majestic Moments (NZ), 128, g, 5, Darci Brahma (NZ)–In
Spain (Ire), by Selkirk. (NZ$115,000 Ylg '13 NZBSEL; A$120,000
2yo '13 INGRTR). O-Tmen Stable. S$63,750.
3–Mr Spielberg (NZ), 128, g, 5, Pentire (GB)–Beautiful Reward
(Fr), by Diesis (GB). (NZ$85,000 Ylg '13 NZBPRE). O-Oscar
Racing Stable. S$32,250.
Margins: HD, 3/4, HF. Odds: 2.00, 2.00, 5.20.
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