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Trainer Shane Baertschiger had his team to thank, especially jockey John Powell, after he racked up a three-in-a-row on Monday.
The Australian handler already got onto the 2017 scoresheet on Sunday with Preditor in the last race, and has now added three more wins to share the early lead with the other in-form trainer, Cliff Brown, on the log.
In the next event, the $60,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m, Baertschiger held a much stronger card in I've Got A Feeling ($17), his former one-leg Singapore Golden Horseshoe series winner, with only the horror gate in 16 to worry about, but thanks to a skillful ride from Powell, that one got on the board, too.
Baertschiger scurried back to the parade ring to saddle two runners in the next, the $35,000 Open Maiden Division 2 race over 1400m, and back he was at the winner’s enclosure for the third time in a row when Creamy Custard ($30) snuck up on the rails to hand Kellady a riding double. His other runner Galileo's Approach (Powell) ran a creditable fifth.
Baertschiger was obviously delighted with the flying start, which he put down to the hard work which has gone unabated during the Christmas break.
“All the horses have been training well. Johnny stayed here the whole month and helped me with the trackwork,” said Baertschiger.
“Matty was away on holidays, but he also came back in time to help me. Scotty Bailey (assistant-trainer) and all the boys have also done a great job and it’s been a great team effort.”
Of the three victors, Baertschiger said I’ve Got A Feeling stood out as his best chance, though his bad barrier did throw a major dampener in the camp.
But a positive ride from Powell at the start saw him scrub up the Encosta De Lago three-year-old from his wide gate before tacking on in second spot behind race-leader Satellite Boy (Zuriman Zulkifli), ahead of their main rival Macarthur (Vlad Duric), who was enjoying a more ground-saving run on the rails.
Swinging for home, I’ve Got A Feeling set sail down the middle of the track while Macarthur, as expected, elected for the shortest route home, but it was I’ve Got A Feeling who got the wood on the favourite with a comfortable 1 ¾-length margin between them at the wire. Zippy General (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) ran third another head away. The winning time was 1min 10.02secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
“If he had drawn a barrier, he would have been a good thing,” said Baertschiger of the son of Singapore Gold Cup winner Zirna.
“He had to work a fair bit to get across, but JP rode him a treat. He’s bred to get 2000m and he will be my (Group 1) Singapore Guineas (1600m) horse this year.”
Powell described the win as a “good tough win” especially after he missed the break a fraction.
“He was slightly slow out of the barriers. That’s why I took my time to get him going,” said the Australian jockey.
“If he had drawn a handier barrier, he would have won more easily. It was a good tough win, happy days.”
Baertschiger’s No 2 jockey also had every reason to flash a toothy grin after his brace.
“I didn’t expect the first one (Commodore Lincoln) to win but he ran on very well. He got there right in time,” said Kellady.
“As for Creamy Custard, he can be a bit of a handful. He does silly things behind and inside the gates, but he was much better behaved today. We led with him at his last start, which didn’t suit him, and we held him off the pace this time.
“The plan was to sit in third or fourth place. We had a lovely spot on the rails, and when we peeled off, he still wanted to lay in and that’s when I put the whip to the left hand.”
Baertschiger said Creamy Custard, a four-year-old by Pins who was at his fourth run after three unplaced starts, showed a better facet of himself when ridden quieter.
“Creamy Custard was dropping in class. He had a run in Novice class, then in two Initiation races and with blinkers on at his last start,” said Baertschiger.
“We led with him at that run and it didn’t work out well. Barrier No 1 also helped him today.
“Commodore Lincoln was a nice surprise. He ran good first-up but was disappointing at his next run.
“He then had two months between runs and that probably helped him today.”
A five-year-old by Iffraaj, Commodore Lincoln was registering his first win at Kranji after eight runs for the Lincoln Farms Stable.