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Former Avondale Guineas winner Valbuena gave his chance of a second shot at the Singapore Gold Cup no harm with a smart win in the $125,000 Open Handicap (1600m) on Sunday.
The Kiwi stayer was always brought to Singapore with the big long-distance races in mind, especially as his last race back home was a slashing win in the Group 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) at Ellerslie in February 2013.
Two unplaced runs in the Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) and the Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2200m), however, dampened the spirits of his trainer Laurie Laxon and owner Sir Peter Vela a little. But they did not give up and the Darci Brahma six-year-old had been a revelation this year, bagging two wins over 2000m this year with Michael Rodd in the saddle.
Still, Valbuena ($35) was a little neglected in the betting on Sunday, presumably on the back of his last-start fifth to Twickenham in a Kranji Stakes B race over 1800m and the fact he was dropping back to the mile and not to mention with A La Victory (Corey Brown) looking hard to beat.
But punters had not reckoned with Valbuena’s superior staying prowess which came to the fore inside the last 600m. Settled at the rear but always travelling very well, Valbuena was ridden up from the 800m to be in the running line by the point of turn, but he still had the job ahead with A La Victory powering down the middle like a good thing.
The complexion suddenly changed when the Michael Freedman-trained galloper ducked in with Brown desperate to get him over the line. Nunes needed no second invitation and duly drove Valbuena with renewed vigour and the favourite was rolled as they claimed victory in a most impressive fashion.
To his credit, A La Victory found a second gear when Valbuena collared him, but it was too little too late as they settled for second place only a neck away. Singapore Gold Cup winner (2013) Tropaios (Azhar Ismail), who was resuming from a four-month break, turned in a huge run from a Gold Cup point of view to run on for third.
Valbuena, who was at his third Kranji win, ran the 1600m on the Long Course in the smart time of 1min 34.53secs.
Laxon said the horse he shares in partnership with his good friend Vela was a late bloomer who would be a leading candidate for the Gold Cup come November.
“He was a good horse in New Zealand. He won the Avondale Guineas but it took a while for him to come right,” said the New Zealand mentor.
“I probably backed him up a bit too quickly at his last run (two weeks apart). There was no race for him after his last run, and we dropped him back to the mile.
“He’s been working really well and it was good to see him win again. He should be going for the Gold Cup again.”
Nunes did ride Valbuena twice without success last year, and was at his first time jumping back on him 10 months later. The Brazilian was suitably impressed with his turn of foot inside the last 400m.
“I galloped him on Saturday and he gave me a very good feel. He was in great form,” said Nunes.
“You always have to respect Laurie with the way he always brings his horses to peak fitness for a race. Today with the light weight and the Long Course, he had a good chance.
“He didn’t overrace at all today and was very relaxed for me at the back. As I know he is a stayer and it was on the Long Course, I started his run quite early.
“I knew he would just keep going and he did exactly that.”
Valbuena has proven to be a handy moneyspinner having already brought his stakes earnings just a little shy of the $200,000 mark for connections.
While the race was billed as a fairly open contest, it didn’t transpire without its disappointments after the wire. US-bred mare Thumping, who was making her comeback towards a tilt at the Gold Cup, ran last while Laxon’s two other runners Goodman, who led, and Martin, who tailed off badly in the early stages, ran fifth and eighth respectively.