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It was no chest-thumping stuff, but after two first promising runs at Kranji, King Kong was finally able to stand tall at his new stomping ground on Sunday.
Jumping smartly from his low draw in the $65,000 Obayashi Sprint 2017, an Initiation race over 1200m, the even-money favourite swiftly took up the perfect run in transit, biding his time in second spot outside the leader Success Come True before issuing his challenge for Danny Beasley as he swung for home.
But for a fleeting moment, the momentum looked to be swinging the way of Gerry Harvey’s Libeccio (Vlad Duric) after he had come out earlier with a searching run from the 600m, to head King Kong and hit the front at the 300m pole.
But King Kong was all heart as he rose again under Beasley’s urgings to come roaring back to the top - and eventually secure that first maiden win by a neck.
The fighting duo were joined late by the fast-finishing The Golden Goat (Olivier Placais) on the outside, but James Peters’ galloper lunged too late and had to settle for a meritorious third another neck away. The winning time was 1min 11secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
Winning trainer Steven Burridge described King Kong as a horse who always tries his best and fully merited that first accolade.
“He always tries very hard. He does overrace a bit and that’s why we decided to go easy on him by putting him on the treadmill,” said the Australian handler.
“Danny rode him very well, but Michael Rodd also rode him well at his first two runs.
“He is a sound horse and the owners will have a lot of fun with him.”
A three-year-old by Conatus, King Kong is raced by new outfit Elite Performance Stable, who has already tasted success with the likes of Elite Excalibur and Elite Takes All.
Beasley said King Kong is a horse who was still learning the ropes and had stacks of ability. He was also indebted towards a fellow colleague for his selflessness.
“Michael Rodd is suspended but he gave me good insight on the horse,” said Beasley.
“When the other horse headed him, I changed my whip to the left hand, and he found himself half-a-length back in front.
“He can be a bit hot in the gates, but he is definitely a horse with ability, and he will get seven furlongs no worries.”