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Friday night’s $35,000 The First Aurora Cup (1800m) may have been just a modest Class 5 race over 1800m.
However its hectic business end saw three parties fight for the final outcome through a protest hearing, with the objection upheld and coming in favour of the second-placed horse Over Easy and his soon-to-leave apprentice jockey Firdhaus Rafi.
The Stephen Gray-trained Holy Trilogy (Vlad Duric) looked all poised to collect the top prize when he got the upperhand of Alfonso (Manoel Nunes) and Over Easy (Firdhaus Rafi) at the 250m but then started to shift in, causing Alfonso to check with Nunes having to take evasive action.
Following the bump, Alfonso and Over Easy, who looked beat when Holy Trilogy hit the front, suddenly found a new momentum and came lunging back on the line. Holy Trilogy still held on narrowly from Over Easy with Alfonso a nose away, but Nunes immediately fired in a protest for interference against the first horse past the post, Holy Trilogy, and Over Easy as well.
After taking evidence from all three riders, the Stewards eventually upheld the objection against the winner but not Over Easy, who was not deemed to have taken the running of Alfonso. The altered placings saw Over Easy ($31) promoted to first place, Alfonso to second place while Holy Trilogy was dropped to third place.
Firdhaus, who soon heads to New Zealand to gain further experience under the tutelage of Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston, was over the moon he was leaving Singapore on a winning note, not to mention he also took home a trophy memento from the race sponsor, The First Aurora.
“I’m so happy I won a race, even if I won it in the Stewards’ room. Winners are grinners!” said the Singaporean rookie as he proudly clutched the trophy.
“My last win actually came on Over Easy around two months ago (July 8). He goes well for me that horse.
“He looked beaten, but when Nunes’ horse got checked, he started to go forward again, and my horse also came back, but he always held his line.
“I’m going to New Zealand soon and that last win is a nice send-off present. I hope I’ll come back to Singapore a better rider.”
Burridge was extremely pleased for his apprentice jockey though he will definitely miss having the jovial rider around – for his happy disposition for sure, but mostly for the tremendous help he gives in trackwork.
“I’m rapt for Rafi. Obviously, we don’t want to win this way, but it was good he could get a winner before he goes to New Zealand for the next 12 months or so,” said the Australian handler.
“It’s a great opportunity for him and I’m sure he’ll improve and go on to become a decent rider.”
Over Easy, an eight-year-old by Darci Brahma, has now taken his record to eight wins, half of which (the last four) came with Firdhaus aboard. He has now amassed close to $300,000 in prizemoney for his owner Janette A Young.
Burridge’s night got even better in the next race, the $38,000 The Wolf Blass Cup, a Kranji Stakes D Division 2 race over 1200m when his third and final runner of the night, $13 favourite Lim's Casino (Danny Beasley) got the money by half-a-length from Totality (Duric).
Burridge described the Casino Prince four-year-old as a “tough horse” but was no world-beater
“He’s not a champion but he’s real gutsy. It’s been a good night for us as I thought Morales had a chance and he ran second,” he said.
Beasley, who was at his second consecutive win with the Lim’s Stable-owned galloper, praised the winner’s fighting spirit, especially when Totality looked like he could topple them at the 50m.
“He’s a bit limited but he’s done a good job tonight. He had a nice run and a nice tempo and he showed a good fight,” said the Australian jockey who was at a riding double having scored aboard Astro Man in the first race for Daniel Meagher.
With that third win, Lim’s Casino now boasts more than $90,000 in stakes earnings for his connections.