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The signs had all along pointed to a debut win for New Zealand-bred Huka Falls on Friday night, and the unraced three-year-old sure did not disappoint, but it now looks like he also has some big horseshoes to fill from now on.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Dubbed as the nap of the night by all and sundry in the $65,000 Restricted Maiden (2&3YO) race over 1100m on Polytrack, largely on the strength of his three-from-three barrier trial wins, including one in Auckland and a sizzling 58.94 seconds at his first Kranji trial, a good barrier draw, the appointment of leading jockey Joao Moreira, Huka Falls ($8) was never in doubt once he slotted into the lead on the rails.
Rocket Rider (Alan Munro) did try to keep the son of Align on his toes, but Moreira always had him on a tight rein, and the issue was promptly put beyond any doubt once he gave the odds-on favourite a few niggles at the top of the straight.
The strapping chestnut just bounded away with his big strides to run his nine rivals ragged inside the last furlong. The winning margin was just under four lengths from Mascot Prince (Saimee Jumaat) with Dragon Commander (JL Li) third another four lengths away. The winning time was 1min 5.64secs.
Trainer Laurie Laxon, who owns 75% of the shares in Huka Falls with the rest owned by his first trainer in New Zealand, Brent Gillovic, under the Silver Fern Racing Stable banner, was obviously delighted with the smart display first-up, and could not help add a little bit of pressure on his new find at the winner’s circle.
“Do you know he is now in Better Than Ever’s box, just outside my office?” he said. “After Better Than Ever went to New Zealand, the box became available and he went straight in.”
Regarded as one of Laxon’s best horses in his 12 years of training at Kranji, Better Than Ever established an unbeaten run of 12 wins before he tasted defeat for the first time in the 2010 Singapore Gold Cup. After struggling with his form of late, the son of French Deputy is soon heading for a new racing career in his country of birth, New Zealand.
Though the early signs are full of promise, Laxon is in no way comparing his former champion with Huka Falls, who incidentally brought up his 50th win for the season.
“They just share the same box, that’s all. But he is a big handsome horse who will grow even bigger as he matures,” said Laxon.
“I saw his trial in New Zealand and liked him immediately. Brett wanted to keep a share in him as he also thought he was pretty good.
“I also bought Waikato and Maraeti from Brett. He even gave me a Kelt Capital winner – Just Call Me Sir. So, it’s fair to say I’ve had a bit of success with him.”
Contrary to his usual practice, Laxon gave Huka Falls a barrier trial on the Tuesday before his race. The six-time Singapore champion trainer explained it was just a safeguard against a lack of racing fitness.
“He needed a second trial. I just wanted to make sure,” said the Kiwi trainer.
“I liked the way he just kept going after the winning post. He will get 1200m easy.
“Actually, I wanted to run him in the Initiation race tonight, but they told me they were a bit low on numbers in that Restricted Maiden race. So I picked that race in the end and it’s worked out well.”