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Out-and-out stayer City of Kirkwall coasted to an easy 1 ½-length victory at his first 2400m race on Friday in the $38,000 Lim’s Objective 2007 Stakes, a Kranji Stakes D race.
In a field where not a single competitor had had a similar distance in their pockets, the competition was still pretty stiff, featuring the likes of Over Easy (John Powell), Schiltron (Manoel Nunes) and Singsurat (Craig Newitt).
There were initial concerns from New Zealand trainer Stephen Gray about the big weight the $15 favourite had to carry in the race, but the opportunity to test his staying power over the gruelling journey was always too good to resist for the Kiwi.
“City Of Kirkwall is very much like his mum Noubeel and inherited her staying power,” said Gray.
“We entered him in last week’s cancelled race and it has been difficult finding a distance that suits him.
“We would love for him to continue racing here. But if there are not enough races in Singapore to really test him, we may consider bringing him over to Australia where there are more opportunities.”
The race started in tentative fashion with the front four made up of early leader Over Easy, Rising Tide, City Of Kirkwall and Shenzhou One. The leading positions did not change much until the approach towards the home straight.
Over Easy started to pick up the pace, as did Rising Tide and Shenzhou One. City Of Kirkwall was boxed in the entire time and it took a chance opening for him to break free of the group. Once he was clear of the pack, there was always going to be only one winner.
“He held on steady throughout the race and we were lucky the leader dropped off and the horse just fought his way out and into the open,” said jockey Corey Brown.
City Of Kirkwall, a four-year-old son of Pentire, has now recorded three wins from 12 starts for total stakes earnings around the $90,000 mark for the Garwyn Stable.