3 minute read
After Codigo’s slashing debut win at Kranji in 2012, not many would have thought the wait for the next visit to the winner’s circle would take so long.
Ridden by the late apprentice jockey Wong Wei Xiang in a Class 4 speed dash over 1000m on August 24, 2012, the then five-year-old Australian import impressed all and sundry with a devastating turn of foot inside the last furlong.
But despite the encouraging debut, trainer Steven Burridge knew Codigo would be a day-to-day proposition. Raced by Australian electrical store tycoon and leviathan owner-breeder Gerry Harvey, Codigo has been plagued by knee problems even before he landed in Singapore.
Burridge had to manage the bad offside knee the best he could, sending him under the knife twice, and keeping him to the Polytrack races most of the time.
His patience was rewarded when Codigo started to show a return to form at his last couple of runs, especially since donning blinker-pacifiers, before finally getting back on the scoresheet after drawing blanks at his last 13 starts since that debut win.
Ridden by jockey Alan Munro, who was replacing the indisposed Corey Brown, Codigo ($35) improved from midfield before going after $13 favourite Lively Dragon (Mohd Zaki), who was being hailed the winner at the 300m mark.
Lively Dragon held on gamely when Codigo drew level but eventually caved in when Burridge’s charge gained the ascendancy to go and record a gutsy half-length victory.
Lively Dragon stuck on well for second while Good Buddy (Cheng Han Kok) sailed home from last to finish third another 1 ¾ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 5.98secs for the 1100m on Polytrack of the $60,000 Class 4 race.
“He’s had three operations on the same knee since he came here. He's a cripple you know, and even had a knee operation before he came here,” said Burridge.
“But he’s done a great job to win tonight. It’s his first win since he won with the apprentice who was killed in that fall last year.
“He’s been struggling a bit, but Alan rode him well tonight. He was the subsititute rider but he gave him a great ride.
“I’m very happy to get another winner for Gerry. Codigo is the only horse I have for him, and I hope he will send me a few more soon.”
Munro, who has never ridden Codigo before, said Burridge’s instructions went a long way in helping him guide the Conatus seven-year-old home.
“Steve’s instructions went exactly as the race panned out. He lugged out to the right in the end because of his bad knee,” said Munro.
“But he gave a very good kick to win a nice race. It’s nice to win on a pick-up ride.”
Codigo, a previous two-time winner in Sydney, has now recorded two wins in Singapore for stakes earnings in excess of $100,000 for Harvey.