3 minute read
The epic training battle of 2012 saw Michael Freedman cruelly beaten on a countback by the unflappable Laurie Laxon, as the two master horseman tied on 76 wins apiece
He only needed one more winner on the last day of racing (December 16) at Kranji to claim a memorable first title but the gods conspired against the former FBI (Freedman Brothers Incorporated) man.
Nandowra but for being savaged in an Open mile twice would have won and given him the crown, with the third placing very brave.
The runner (Keep Away) that had two severe attacks at him finished last unsurprisingly and left Nandowra (ridden by Danny Beasley) a sitting duck but he fought on ever so hard.
I have no doubt the premiership was decided right there as Laxon would have run out races to get alongside then.
Today we see Joao Moreira get atop Nandowra and he rides this solidly built son of Savabeel well, which is no surprise to bettors.
Four rides for two wins, a second and a fourth at G3 show he can get the gelding into a rhythm and either wait for anything that wants to try and lodge a bid or else does the stalking and turns up the wick near the home turn.
The topweight of 58kg today is not ideal considering he last won a race in April last year under 55.5kg albeit at G3 but it did come on turf over 1800m.
He will contest the S$150K G3 Woodlands Classic Stakes over 1800m on the Course B long turf track that is Race Nine on the card this evening.
There does look to be a bit of pace in the race and a couple of the lighter weights like to lead so Moreira will from gate eight come over and see whether the opposition are for real and who is bluffing.
I do see City Lad as a likely pacemaker if the connections think he can run the 1800m and with 53kg after a claim he could take control of the feature event.
Then it will be two Brazilians running next most likely with Moreira on Nandowra and Manoel Nunes on Goodpack and the latter could lead if back to the more suitable turf also sees a return to his best racing style.
Moreira will know if he cannot get the front then sitting close then edging nearer across the top before eyeballing coming up to the home turn is the plan in a perfect world.
The lightweights cannot be allowed to just sprint home and must at least feel the presence of a rival a fair way out to ensure the 1800m is some sort of stamina contest.
The two Pat Shaw runners in Maurice Utrillo and Lizarre are obvious threats as both love the turf and have the touch of quality required to win a Group race.
Maurice Utrillo was a game third in the G3 New Year Cup over 1900m last start and did not get much luck in the running in the poly feature to start 2013.
Barend Vorster back atop is a big tick for mine as it is he that has won six of the seven races on the consistent performer.
Four starts ago was the last time Maurice Utrillo won and it came at 1800m on the turf in a Kranji Stakes B under 58kg where he dug the deepest in a ding donger the run home.
The 57kg does make him a must include this evening and also consider he was good enough to finish second in the G1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup on turf behind the marvellous mare Better Life last November.
Lizarre won the G3 New Year Cup but rises 7kg here so for not an overly big horse it will play a role the closing stages.
He is G1 placed second over 2200m on the turf but had 50kg when giving the Longines Singapore Gold Cup guru El Dorado a fright and a fight in 2011.
Davy Bonilla rode him so well to win last start that retaining the ride was a formality.
Laxon has two live chances in Dujardin and Devonshire with each liking the turf more than poly.
Dujardin will be ridden by Danny Beasley and he is the only rider to have won on him since coming to Singapore.
The gelding had a health issue the last time he raced when ridden by an apprentice on the poly but would not be here at G3 over 1800m unless everything was given the all clear.
Devonshire will be ridden by Steven King, who is still looking to win his first race at Kranji, and hopefully he has done that by the time this feature comes late into the Sunday card.
The five-year-old has not raced since failing in the G1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup but prior his form on the turf was excellent including a win in the El Dorado Classic (2200m) over King Faalcon and Mitre Peak.
The feature event tonight incidentally was won last year by Mitre Peak and before that the Laxon trained and Moreira ridden Martial Art so it stands to reason another double named runner starting with the letter M is feasible.
Maurice Utrillo fills the bill and the Shaw and Vorster pairing has been lethal for years in feature races.
I do see Nandowra as the one that can defeat Maurice Utrillo purely because of Joao-mentum but the quinella does look very likely.
There will be more than mixed feelings for Freedman if Nandowra does tonight what he would have last start but for unwanted attention twice in the running from the same culprit.
If there is a blowout then Tenzing back onto the turf is your double-figures delight as when he is fit and healthy it is the turf that sees him climb the mountain successfully.
Three starts ago in the G1 Gold Cup he finished fourth behind Better Life, Maurice Utrillo and Deep Pockets so do consider him here with John Powell to take the ride.
Enjoy the race and feel the Freedman pain if Nandowra wins knowing so near but so far.