The Ride of Their Life

THE RIDE OF THEIR LIFE 
The Singapore International Races may not be up there with the likes of the Arc de Triomphe or Royal Ascot, but every year it can be relied upon to provide a ‘seat of your pants’ experience. This year was no exception. Singapore Champion jockey Joao ‘Magic’ Moreira had returned to try one more time to conquer the two races that had eluded him during his four years here. With mounts such as Sterling City (Aus) (Nadeem {Aus}) and Military Attack (Ire) (Oratotio {Ire}), it seemed as if the racing gods would finally be smiling on the talented Brazilian. 
The day started with the usual Singaporean deluge as lightning flashed across the sky and the rain came down in sheets. But unlike the normal daily shower, this one stubbornly refused to move on. Fortunately, jockeys and horses do not melt, and the first race jumped on time. The fact that the jockeys were barely visible though the downpour did not seem to bother the large crowd at all. 
As the afternoon wore on the course held up and the rain eased to a drizzle and finally stopped. It was time for the G1 KrisFlyer Sprint. Sterling City and Zac Spirit (Aus) (Flying Spur {Aus}) were easy favorites, but the pick of the parade ring was the old, wise warrior Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), defending his crown. The 7-year-old gelding has seen more racecourses than he cares to remember and has taken to choosing where and when he will run. 
Today was one of those days, and for those of us who know him well, the writing was on the wall in the parade ring already. For it was the Lucky Nine of old, proudly parading around, a twinkle in his eye and a look of fierce concentration on his face. Brett Prebble was going to be merely a passenger as the old warhorse taught the young whippersnappers a lesson. And what a lesson it turned out to be. 
Lucky Nine settled in the box seat, waited for the perfect opportunity and shot clear with such authority that Prebble was forced to perform a series of acrobatics in the saddle, trying to figure out just where the challengers were. It was a dominant performance that put daylight between him and second placed Emperor Max (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Not only was Prebble completing the double on Lucky Nine, but he had also partnered the mighty Sacred Kingdom to victory in 2009. Prebble could not hide his delight at his treble, while Lucky Nine looked as serene and unfussed as he did prerace. Trainer Caspar Fownes, who had been hospitalized during the week, could not contain his delight, lifting Prebble into the air in a giant bear hug. 
Lucky Nine had defended his crown–could Military Attack and Moreira do the same in the Singapore Airlines International Cup? There was, however, an emotional drama being played out behind the scenes, as Tommy Berry mounted stable companion Dan Excel (Ire) (Shamardal). Always the bridesmaid and seldom the bride, Dan Excel was to be the hare launching Military Attack to his second victory. Berry had left Singapore two months earlier to accompany his desperately ill twin Nathan back to Sydney. Nathan passed away shortly after arriving home and Berry has never returned. After surviving what arguably was the toughest time of his life, Berry was about to have the ride of his life. 
Dan Excel, who had been scratchy in track work all week, seemed to sense the importance of the occasion. Jumping perfectly, he set off to do his allotted job. Except, the hare did not stop. There came a magical moment, with Military Attack and Smoking Sun (Smart Strike) chasing hard, when Berry and the assembled crowd realized that he could actually win. Dan Excel, ears flat against his head, kept on rolling as the line approached. It was a great ride, and a well-deserved victory for a gallant, honest horse. Berry stood high in the irons and screamed his delight as the pair crossed the line. The crowd roared with him. It wasn’t Moreira’s famous magic, nor was it the fairytale ending they had hoped for. It was far more–it was a man having the ride of his life on a horse giving his all and for one glorious moment on the sodden turf at Kranji, their all was enough.