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Patience paid off for Squire Osbaldeston after he bounced back to winning ways in the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1600m on Sunday.
The Irish-bred gelding showed some promise early in his Singapore career, but his form tapered off after his second win last July. Trainer Stephen Gray was, however, able to detect the niggles behind and treated the Mr Greeley six-year-old accordingly.
Squire Osbaldeston (named after an 18th century British politician who loved a punt) certainly did not squander away Gray’s great dose of patience coupled with a determined ride from Michael Rodd to find his way back to the winner’s circle.
Favourite Bring Money Home (Mohd Zaki) issued a stiff challenge on Squire Osbaldeston’s inside in the concluding stages, but Rodd was able to switch his mount right back on to prevail by a short head.
Ride Of Valkyries (Alan Munro) ran third another 1 ¼ lengths away in the small eight-horse field. The winning time was 1min 35.07secs for the 1600m on the Long Course.
“He’s not an easy horse to ride as he tends to overrace. He’s the type of horse who needs the speed on and the small field probably helped as well,” said Gray.
“But he’s had a few issues, not just mentally but also physically. He was a bit jointy and his joints reacted adversely to the treatment.
“We had to put him on antibiotics and put him back. He wasn’t quite the same at a couple of runs, but he’s come back stronger after the New Year.”
Rodd, who was at his first pairing with Squire Osbaldeston ($18), said a bit of counsel from fellow jockey John Powell helped.
“He’s a funny sort of horse. He needs pace, but like JP explained to me, he’s a stayer with sprinting in his head,” said the Australian jockey.
“Today, he switched off very well and ran on nicely, but then he stopped once he got in front. He was always going to get beaten when the other horse came up but he did the job in the end.”
The Gray yard continued their superb form with a race-to-race double coming from newcomer Optimus (Brown) in the $65,000 Initiation race over 1200m.
Ollie Eagle (Kanichiro Fujii) looked to have the race parcelled up at the 200m but Gray’s trial winner (January 5) finished a shade better.