Nine-time Singapore champion trainer Laurie Laxon earned the distinct honour of lifting the inaugural $125,000 SG50 Trophy (1400m) on Sunday, probably not with the horse he had thought he would if he did, but Daniel was still a meritorious victor nonetheless.
Laxon saddled the redoubtable Oscar Racing Stable duo of Affleck and Daniel in the race launched to celebrate the nation’s 50th anniversary, and though Daniel was an outstanding galloper in his own right, having just made a successful comeback from a bleeding attack, Affleck, his pin-up former champion two-year-old predictably drew more admirers even after failing at his last run in a 1600m race.
A winning barrier trial when fitted with pacifiers for the first time during the week had faith restored in the son of Battle Paint, who was duly backed off as the $8 favourite on Sunday, but alas, Laxon’s No 1 pick again came a cropper.
He jumped reasonably well, but never seemed to be really travelling for new partner Manoel Nunes, and even seemed to resent it when Bogart (Saifudin Ismail) came across him down the back.
In stark contrast, his stable companion Daniel ($29) enjoyed a trouble-free journey in the box-seat behind race-leader Albany Reunion (John Powell), just needing to wait for the split at the right time to launch his final assault.
Affleck was still out three wide upon straightening and not totally out of it by the 400m, but Nunes was visibly under pressure to set him alight the way he has at his previous magnificent seven wins.
Corey Brown was also getting busy aboard Daniel as he switched him across the heels of Albany Reunion to go for a gap, which narrowed for a fleeting second, but which he fully capitalised on once he got more galloping room.
Affleck could not go on with the job, but Daniel still had to reckon with a late charge from Gold Rutile (Alan Munro) who was finishing with a flourish down the middle while Darci Charmer (Brad Parnham) was rattling home on the outside.
The last 50m of the SG50 Trophy turned into a real cliffhanger with Brown riding for dear life on the inside to hold on to their slender lead, and the other two gobbling up the ground with every stride, but the winning post saved Daniel as he fell in by a head from Darci Charmer, who lunged right on the line to deprive Gold Rutile of the runner-up spot by a nose. The winning time was 1min 22.31secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.
Straight after the race, Laxon announced that Daniel would be targeted at the second renewal of the Asia Challenge Cup (1200m), the Korean race on dirt in Seoul that El Padrino historically won for Alwin Tan and Singapore last year.
“He’s been going good and Corey rode him a treat,” said the Kiwi trainer.
“I will send him to Korea for that international race which will be run on 30 August. He’s run over Polytrack before and I thought it would suit him.
“He won’t get a run here before he goes. I will have to start organising for that now.”
While Laxon was excited with Daniel and his future endeavours in Korea, he was visibly quite disappointed with the performance of Affleck, who eventually beat two home, Bogart and Pachelbel’s Canon.
“He needs a spell. He’s not concentrating in his races,” said Laxon.
“He’s a pretty good horse but he’s not racing at his best at the moment.”
Nunes also reported the tank was empty when he pushed the button in the home straight, but he also felt he was onto a different animal on Sunday.
“He didn’t feel the same Affleck. Even when Saifudin’s horse came across me, he started to pull and was not himself,” said the Brazilian jockey.
“In the home straight, I asked for an effort and there was nothing there. I heard Laurie said he needs a break.
“I hope he’ll bounce back because he’s such a good horse.”
Brown for his part was all smiles he had got on Daniel at the right time (he also rode him at his first-up win back on July 12) and could now be on a joyride to a country the well-travelled jockey has yet to tick.
“He drew a gate and settled behind the leader. The speed wasn’t great, and he did pull a little but once he anchored up, he came back to me,” said the Australian hoop.
“When we straightened I felt he dropped off too soon, but I could see Manoel going for Affleck and I knew I had them covered.
“He just found another gear when I went at him, and considering the weight (58kg) he had to carry, he dug deep for a very solid win.
“He’s had two starts on the All-Weather early doors and won on both occasions. So I think he’ll be competitive in Korea.
“We just had Korean horses and jockeys at Kranji last week, and it would be great if I get to go and ride Daniel there.”
Another jockey who came close to clinching another great moment after finally finding the line aboard Lika Tiger for his first Singapore win on Friday was Parnham.
“It was a great run. He’s just the sort of horse who takes a long time to balance up,” said the Perth rider.
A five-year-old grey by Guillotine, Daniel has now recorded seven wins and six placings for stakes earnings past the $660,000 mark for the Oscar Racing Stable.
– Singapore Turf Club
