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Trainer Mok Zhan Lun will give promising galloper Philanthropist a break following his breakthrough victory in the $65,000 Restricted Maiden over 1200m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Despite racing greenly, Philanthropist fought gamely to score by a head from first starter Gold Mine (Soo Khoon Beng) with Victory Wings (Ivaldo Santana) a length away third.
The time was 1 min 12.72 secs.
Gold Mine was ridden hard from the start to share the lead with Fei Yue (Greg Cheyne) but was racing extravagantly and coming off the back straight began to hang.
This allowed Fei Yue to hold a lead turning for home where he was quickly collared by Holly (Barend Vorster) and Philanthropist.
Passing the 200m Philanthropist booted clear but Gold Mine rallied again and started to peg back the ground while Victory Wings was finishing solidly back on the fence.
Philanthropist ran second on debut back on July 13 before losing his rider in the Magic Millions Juvenile Championship over 1200m on July 26.
“He’s still very green and hasn’t had much luck with the barrier draws,” said Mok.
“He’s a very nervy horse in the barriers and Oscar just asked the handlers to leave him alone in the barriers and got him to relax.
“He’s a very good horseman and naturally you have to be guided by what he says.
“Oscar said that he might benefit from a break, so I think I will do that.
“It might just let him grow up a bit mentally.”
Philanthropist was a NZ$21,000 purchase as a two-year-old and has already repaid his owners with Sunday’s success and his debut second placing.
A three-year-old by Churchill Downs from the Inflate mare Violet Ponds, Philanthropist has won around $47,000 in prizemoney for owners Good Health Stable.