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Gutsy galloper Natural Nice bounced back from his last-start defeat in the Group 3 Yew Tee Classic Stakes (1800m) to score in his usual last-stride fashion on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The Towkay four-year-old looked tight for room at the 200m but under a persuasive ride by Joao Moreira, kept on between two runners to put his nose in front on the line and deny race-leader Petrenui (Danny Beasley) a three-in-a-row in the $95,000 Top Spin 2008 Stakes Open Benchmark 83 race over 1200m.
The V-Day Stable-owned gelding was tested over more ground in the Yew Tee three weeks ago, but failed to stay to run sixth to Nandowra, more than six lengths away.
With the benefit of hindsight, trainer Laurie Laxon decided to drop him back to something easier and shorter, and was spot-on in his judgement.
“It was probably a mistake to have raced him over 1800m,” said the 1,003-time winning trainer, who is always first to point the finger at himself if he has erred.
“But you never know (how they will go) until you try. His pedigree suggests he is a sprinter anyway, and I will now keep him to sprints, not longer than 1400m.
“He sure knows where the winning post is. He never wins by a lot and he’s done it again this afternoon.”
Natural Nice has now registered seven wins from 26 starts, with the last four wins (including Sunday’s) scored by combined margins not exceeding one length. His stakes earnings have now edged close to the $360,000 mark.
While Moreira was celebrating his 117th winner at Kranji, he had actually paid his last two visits at the winner’s circle elsewhere as he had just returned from a successful hit-and-run trip to Macau on Saturday, landing a double from four rides, including the HK$1 million Group 1 Macau Gold Cup (1800m) aboard second-favourite Lucky And Wealthy for trainer Geoff Allendorf.
“It’s always a pleasure to ride a Group 1 winner anywhere in the world,” said the three-time Singapore champion jockey whose second winner was favourite Theology for the same Allendorf.
“The Macau people treated me so nicely and it was great I was able to ride two winners there, including the Macau Gold Cup.
“It was my second time riding there as I first rode there in 2009, but didn’t ride a winner then. I sure would love to ride there again whenever they invite me.
“This time round, I met the owner Mr Cheung (Pik Fong) when I rode in Hong Kong and he wanted me to ride Lucky And Wealthy in the Gold Cup.”
Moreira said Natural Nice was a gallant sort who just does not like to get beaten.
“I like this horse a lot. He’s not happy when he sees a horse in front of him,” said the Brazilian rider.
“He always pins his ears back and always wants to get past other runners. It was a bit tight at some stage, but once the gap opened, he just went for it.”