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Back from a spell, the talented but unpredictable A La Victory gained the verdict in a head-bobber in the $100,000 Open Benchmark 97 race over 1400m on Friday night.
Once again, the Alamosa four-year-old looked like he would brain his rivals when he came motoring home with his customary turn of foot after enjoying a smothered run in behind runners, but the last furlong was anything but smooth sailing for his jockey Corey Brown.
Resuming since running a long last in the Group 1 Longines Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) in November, A La Victory ($28) was all poised to sail away to an easy victory when he grabbed the lead as the field fanned across the track at the 300m, but his old quirk reared its ugly head again – he “half pulled up”.
Granted, it was not as severe as the day he suddenly veered in when he was well clear in the Group 3 CECF Singapore Prestige Classic last February to eventually settle for second for jockey Craig Newitt, but it was in the same league.
Brown had to pull out every trick in his book to coax the reluctant customer to the line, especially as favourite Dragon Fury (Danny Beasley) was darting through on the inside with a stinging acceleration. The two horses lunged locked together, but A La Victory on the outside prevailed by a short head from Dragon Fury.
Stablemate Titanium (A’Isisuhairi Kasim), who just like A La Victory was resuming since his unplaced run in the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy (two days before the Gold Cup), ran an encouraging third another three parts of a length away. The winning time was 1min 22.45secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
While delighted at the win – to ring up a running double after he saluted one race earlier aboard Stock Broker - Brown was self-critical of his own ride inside the last 100m, calling it “ugly”, but said A La Victory was again his own worst enemy when he just throws in the towel instead of putting the race to bed.
“He got three-quarter length in front and he just pulls up on me. He does that all the time!” said the Australian hoop.
“It’s true I got in front probably 100m too early, but he’s pulled the same old trick again, and it was pretty ugly in the end. He’s just got no confidence about him, he’s the sort who runs in the pack, he’s not the lion.
“If not for that, he should have won by a length and a half going away. Even in the running, I was panicking a bit as we were caught behind runners and he’s the type of horse who likes daylight.
“But he’s won and that’s what matters. He will win a big one for them soon.”
Michael Freedman’s assistant-trainer James Peters (pictured above) has not cast in stone any ambitious plan for the China Horse Club-owned gelding, but has not lost sight of A La Victory’s age.
“You turn four only once, and we would have to think about going towards the Derby with him,” said the Englishman, referring to the third Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge, the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 10.
“We don’t really know why he didn’t run well in the Gold Cup. I think he can still go for 2000m, though personally, I think he’s probably a better horse over 1400m to a mile when fresh.
“We gave him a long break after the Gold Cup and I was very happy with his trial behind Spalato last week.
“He was nice and fresh for tonight and again he showed he had heaps of ability, but he just needs things to turn right for him. Corey said he again half-pulled on him when he hit the front, but luckily, he put his head down where it mattered.”
With that sixth win from 16 starts, A La Victory has now pushed his stakes earnings just a little over the $350,000 mark for his connections.