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New Zealand newcomer Countofmontecristo underlined his qualities with an impressive winning debut in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on Friday night.
The three-year-old by little-known sire Echoes Of Heaven (x Encosta De Lago) was a two-time trial runner-up back in New Zealand before he was bought by Singapore owner Joe Singh (of Gingerbread Man fame) to be trained by Michael Clements.
That early potential was evidently not lost after moving countries going with the way he won a barrier trial at Kranji with Glen Boss up on January 3.
The litmus test still remained a real race, and Countofmontecristo certainly took to it like a duck to water, helped in no small measure by a positive ride from jockey Mohd Zaki.
Without taking anything away from Clements’ debut winner – incidentally the Zimbabwean-born trainer’s first winner for the season – the late withdrawal of favourite Silkino (Gerald Mosse) after he burrowed under his gate and ran off without his saddle, was probably another factor.
But from the way Countofmontecristo ($22) pulled away from the pack inside the last 300m to post a comfortable 3 ½-length win from Siam Gemstone (Vlad Duric) with favourite (after Silkino’s scratching) Redoubt (John Powell) third another head away, it was a run which on face value was highly commendable in its own right. The winning time was 1min 12.62secs for the 1200m on Polytrack.
With Clements currently attending the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, assistant-trainer Michael ‘Chopsy’ White was on hand along with Singh and his entourage to lead in the yard’s inaugural winner for 2017.
“He’s a horse who showed good potential at his trials in New Zealand and brought that form over since he got here,” said the Australian horseman.
“There was a question mark about him going over 1200m on Polytrack first-up, but we rolled the dice and it’s paid off.
“I have no doubt he’ll be more competitive over more ground. There are better things in store for him.”
With Boss suspended, White said they had to go looking for another rider, which is where Singh suggested the underrated Zaki.
“Zaki is a good jockey but he doesn’t get many opportunities. I told him I would support him this year,” said Singh.
“Zaki’s won a few races for me in the past, like Johnny Hates Jazz and Minah Current, and I had no hesitation putting him on this horse. He will win more races for me this year.”
On his latest victorious acquisition, who is named after a classic from The Three Musketeers’ author Alexandre Dumas, Singh said the gelding took part in a couple of New Zealand trials with strong formline.
“I bought him after he ran second in two barrier trials in New Zealand and left him there for one year,” said Singh.
“The filly who beat him in one of the barrier trials, Honey Rider went on to win a Group 3 race (Gold Trail Stakes) in New Zealand.
“I got him for a reasonable price, and he seems to have a nice future here.”
Zaki, who rode only four winners last year and has not scored since Excellent Magic on March 20, 2016 was, as expected, grateful for the opportunity in his post-victory speech.
“I would just like to say thank you to the trainer and the owner for putting me on this horse,” said the Malaysian rider.
“We need winners to survive in this game.”