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Dour stayer Over Easy shed a little of his ‘one-batter’ tag when he turned in the fastest sectional in the $35,000 Kranji Stakes D race over 1700m to get up in the shadows of the post on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
After settling in the rear division, Over Easy quickened up nicely once he was set alight by jockey Alan Munro at the top of the straight. Favourite Beautiful World (Jose Verenzuela), who endured a torrid trip travelling three deep while sharing the lead with Flaneur (Koh Teck Huat) and Afternoon Delight (Manoel Nunes), was being hailed the winner when he hit the lead at the 300m, but Over Easy wore him down to score by a neck.
Flying Ahead (Zuriman Zulkifli) looked a threat at the 300m when he tried to draw on level terms with Beautiful World, but could not summon that little extra to settle for third another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 46.21secs.
Winning trainer Steven Burridge said Over Easy, who paid $27 for a win, owed his victory, his second in 16 starts at Kranji, largely to Munro’s smart ride, but was quick to qualify he was no superstar, and was probably a little overrated when a beaten favourite at his last two runs, presumably stemming from his status as an Emergency Acceptor in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) last month.
“We threw him in the Derby mix because he can stay all day, and won at his last start (Class 4 race over 1800m), but he is no world beater,” said Burridge.
“He’s just a one-pacer and was a bit disappointing the other day, but he’s bounced back in good form tonight. It was hard to be confident as he was also drawn the widest (12).
“But Alan gave him a beautiful ride to just keep him going in the home straight. It was a very strong ride.”
The British jockey said Burridge’s battle plan to drop back and switch off in the running in a bid to give the gelding every chance paid off.
“We rode him the same way he won his last race. He was a bit too close at his last runs,” said Munro.
“He’s a one-batter really, but very honest, and he was always a good chance going into tonight’s race.”