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Trainer Cliff Brown could not conceal his delight when one of his stable stalwarts, Deep Pockets, returned to winning ways on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Lined up in the $125,000 Open race over 1800m, Deep Pockets, who last ran 10th to Military Attack in the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup (2000m) on May 19, delivered a heart-stopping duel with another beaten SIA Cup runner, Ready To Strike, before outslugging the gallant Laurie Laxon-trained gelding by a short head.
Ready To Strike (Joao Moreira), who finished 11th but seven lengths behind Deep Pockets in the International showpiece, found a second wind as he customarily does under the kosh, after being headed by Deep Pockets at the 300m mark, but jockey Alan Munro, threw his all at Deep Pockets, who responded gamely to cling on for dear life.
After initially dropping back to last, Deep Pockets, who races in the all-red colours of Auric Stable, improved on the rails to be within striking distance at the top of the straight. But Ready To Strike, who had sat on the rump of race-leader Shuttle Man (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) was able to pinch the first run on his six rivals.
Deep Pockets, a five-year-old by Lucky Owners, levelled up manfully and even drew clear before Ready To Strike doggedly fought his way back into the race on the rails. The last 200m turned into a riveting two-horse stoush, but Deep Pockets had the last say.
The winner has now brought his record to six wins and eight placings from 32 starts for prizemoney close to $835,000.
“Obviously the SIA Cup was a different class for him, but he’s come through well from that race,” said Brown.
“I was very worried when they steadied up the pace from the back. He normally needs them to run along to come off a quick pace.
“He has often been stiff, getting caught in traffic as well. But it was a small field today and he didn’t have to duck and weave to get through.
“Alan gave him a terrific ride. With his 50kg (1.5kg over in the end), we had to get a lightweight jockey (regular partner John Powell struggles to ride at 54kg) and there’s no better lightweight jockey around than Alan.
“It’s been a while since his last win (June 6, 2012), but that was really good. He fully deserved to win today as he’s always run well even when he didn’t win.
“Last year, he ran second in the Derby and just before the SIA Cup, he ran good (fourth) in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (last April).
“All being well, I will probably set him for the Chairman’s Trophy now.”
The Group 2 weight-for-age race over 1800m will be run on July 28, and was captured last year by Chase Me backing up two weeks after his Emirates Singapore Derby win.
Munro, who was at only his second leg-up aboard Deep Pockets, his first coming in a successful barrier trial last Tuesday, said his horse had to dig deep to earn his win.
“We had to struggle to get past that other horse (Ready To Strike). He’s such a tough horse and has improved so much, he just found more,” said the English rider.
“We had a lovely run throughout and we were just lucky when they opened up in the straight. My horse and the other horse just pulled away from the rest.
“He was in a really good form from this trial.”
The Michael Freedman-trained Raziyya Of Sydney (Barend Vorster) started a looping run four wide from the backstraight, but peaked on his run to finish third another 2 ¾ lengths away, three lengths ahead of his more-vaunted stablemate and last-start winner Tropaios (Corey Brown) who ran fifth – a performance which fell way below expectations, especially in view of his Singapore Derby plans.