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Trainer Bruce Marsh landed his 200th winner in Singapore when Kobe Top Gun took out the $75,000 Big Easy Handicap over 1800m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Marsh began training in Singapore in 2005 and numbers among his wins two Emirates Singapore Derbies as well as capturing last season's Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge with Gingerbread Man.
Ridden by Opie Bosson, Kobe Top Gun scored by a neck over Quinta De Lago (Joao Moreira) with Sky Lord (Saifudin Ismail) a nose away in third place.
Marsh described the Japanese-bred five-year-old as an “in-and-out” performer and on Sunday said he was on his best behaviour.
Kobe Top Gun had won two races on end in December and January before running a disappointing 12th at his last start over 1700m on January 24.
Marsh elected to give the gelding a barrier trial on Thursday morning in an effort to “switch him on”.
“I don't know what happened last time,” said Marsh. “He's such an in-and-out character.
“I think he just switched off last time and didn't put in. We changed a few things up and gave him a barrier trial on Thursday morning.”
Bosson said Kobe Top Gun, which drew barrier two, appreciated getting some room in races and toughed it out well all the way to the line.
“He doesn't like racing in between horses,” said Bosson. “When I was able to get him out with no other horses around him he was much better.”
A five-year-old by Tap Dance City from the Alydar mare Oak Alyday, Kobe Top Gun has now won four of his 19 starts and took his prizemoney to around the $150,000 mark for the Hippocrates Stable.