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The bridesmaid tag was starting to stick, but Aloha put it together at the right time to shake it off with a bold frontrunning display on Sunday.
Second at his last two starts, the Red Dazzler three-year-old was facing the starter for the eighth time, but with a very competitive line-up in the Initiation race over 1200m ($65,000 Mr Big 2013 Stakes), even trainer Alwin Tan thought his charge would be hard-pushed to break his maiden status this time.
Contenders such as Q Nine Maxim (Manoel Nunes) and Roger (Alan Munro) were both popular in the market after their forward debuts whereas there was some spruiking on beginners like Bahana (Michael Rodd) and Classified (Shafiq Rizuan), both trial winners in New Zealand.
A strong capacity field of 14 runners were all vying for that first success, but Aloha, the most experienced customer with seven starts, proved to be the best from start to finish.
Jumping smartly, the Sam Chee Kiong-owned (same owner as smart sprinter Goal Keeper) galloper darted to the lead straightaway. Even though Special ID (Joseph See) came up on his girth to keep him company, Aloha never looked fazed, continuing to stride along at a steady speed.
Swinging for home, the swoopers led by Bahana and Classified did not take long to materialise while Q Nine Maxim was not improving as expected, but their hopes soon came to nought the moment Rueven went into overdrive. Aloha did not weaken like at his previous starts and at no time did he look vulnerable, so freewheeling were his galloping strides all the way to the line which he reached by three lengths from Special ID.
The two newcomers Bahana and Royal Easter (Corey Brown) did well to finish third and fourth, another length and three-quarter-length away respectively. The winning time was 1min 10.37secs for the 1200m.
Tan said Aloha deserved success to come his way after having had the foot on the till for such a long time.
“The field in my opinion was quite strong today, but luckily, we got a good barrier draw,” said the Singaporean handler.
“I told Rueven to jump well and sit where he felt comfortable. He’s a horse that can pull sometimes and even Rueven told me he did that when he tried to settle him in second or third when he last rode him.
“Rueven rode him very well and did not panic when Special ID came to tackle him down the back. He ran off their feet in the end and his timing was also very good.”
Adding even more satisfaction to the win was the fact that Aloha was actually unwanted at the sales.
“For some reason, I was the only one who wanted to buy him at the Magic Millions Ready-To-Run last year,” said Tan.
“I thought he looked nice and I liked the way he ran his trial. Well, I’m glad I went with my gut-feel.”
As for Rueven, it was anything but raw instincts that helped him steer Aloha home as he did have the benefit of hindsight.
“I rode him last time, and I think he was not 100%. He was still green and was pulling a fair bit,” said the in-form Malaysian apprentice jockey.
“He was a lot more settled today. Still, I decided not to fight him this time, and just let him roll coming up to the back straight.
“He has been gaining a lot of fitness on Polytrack and I think it was easier for him to run on turf today. He was more relaxed and he can go further for sure.”
Though Aloha was at his first success, his previous three seconds and one third have bumped up his stakes earnings to a handy amount worth around $90,000 for his connections.