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Rising star Huka Falls continues to take Kranji by storm when he came through what was billed as his biggest test thus far with consummate ease on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Stepped up in grade in the $125,000 Open race over 1200m and coming off the back of four wins in a row, the strapping three-year-old chestnut by Align was this time pitted against a much tougher field that boasted the likes of Speedy Cat, Makkura, Yin Xin, Valevole and El Padrino among others.
To compound matters, the heavens opened on the day to give way to a rain-affected track, which was about the only element the Laurie Laxon yard did not want in the equation. In seven starts thus far, Huka Falls had tasted defeat only once, in the Jubilee Stakes (1400m) last September, when the track was rated as soft.
But all those fears were quickly allayed when regular partner Joao Moreira easily took him to the front to dictate terms before toying with the opposition in the home straight to score by 1 ¼ lengths from El Padrino (Oscar Chavez) in the smart time of 1 min 9.49secs despite the yielding track.
Bonny mare Makkura (Greg Cheyne) ran third another half-a-length away while last-start winner Speedy Cat (John Powell) looked a threat when he was angled out the widest at the top of the straight, but he just could not match Huka Falls’ firepower to run fourth, four lengths away from the winner.
Laxon, who only returned from his New Zealand holidays on Friday night, could not conceal his delight after the breathtaking win – the gelding’s seventh for the Silver Fern Racing Stable to rack up stakes earnings already past the $300,000 mark. The seven-time Singapore champion trainer did admit to feeling the jitters when it became clear they would not be getting a dry track, but the final outcome certainly far exceeded his expectations.
“The course manager has done a good job to keep the track in such good order with all the rain that fell,” said the just-crowned 2012 Singapore champion trainer.
“I have to say I wasn’t confident at all when it rained today. The only time he ran on a wet track, he failed badly.
“Then again, it was over 1400m while today he was running over 1200m and he had no weight on his back.
“All that combined with a positive ride from Joao got him home. Anyway, I think he’s more of a 1200m sprinter at this stage.
“That is why I will probably be looking at the Merlion Trophy for him next, and then on to the KrisFlyer later on.”
The $200,000 Group 3 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on Polytrack is the first Leg of the Singapore Sprint Series and is run on March 15 while the $1 million Group 1 KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) is run on May 19.
Laxon had the option of going for the Group 3 Three Rings Trophy (1400m) on February 19, but said he would rather skip the feature race he has won four times.
“I think I would rather keep him to 1200m races. The Three Rings Trophy is over 1400m and it may do something to his confidence if he loses,” said Laxon.
“Even for the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, I may consider the first Leg (Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint over 1200m) only. We’ll see.”
Moreira was just as blown away by the way Huka Falls made light of all those so-called hurdles to continue his winning streak.
“I was able to land in front so easily. I then backed off the speed just to give him every chance,” said the champion jockey.
“At the top of the straight, I just let him stride away, and he did so easily. I’m just the lucky boy to be sitting on him as any other jockey would have won on him.”
While Laxon was half-hearted about testing his precious charge beyond 1200m, the Brazilian was oozing a little more confidence.
“I’m not sure about the mile, but I don’t see why he won’t be able to get 1400m,” he said.
“I told Laurie that we haven’t seen the best of him. He’s a very exciting horse for sure.”