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Straight to the line as the Crowe flies

3 minute read

Mr Crowe rose in class in Sunday’s $60,000 Class 4 Division 2 race over 1400m but still shone the brightest to make it back-to-back wins.

Mr Crowe winning the CLASS 4 Picture: Singapore Turf Club

Successful in a Kranji Stakes D race over 1400m at his last start three weeks ago, the Laurie Laxon-trained Alamosa four-year-old again produced a powerful acceleration inside the last 300m to come up roses.

But the path to the line was not without some hiccups this time around.

After a lovely ground-saving run on the rails in midfield, Mr Crowe was being steered to the outside by jockey Glen Boss for his run at the 400m, but suddenly bumped with Queen’s Seven (Derreck David) to ricochet back to the inside.

There was to be no grief, though, as acres of space was still available on the rails side. Boss let rip and Mr Crowe bolted through to a commanding lead that looked hard to overcome until Lim’s Bullet (Danny Beasley) rocketed home from nowhere.

It was too little too late, though, as Mr Crowe ($30) hung in to score by half-a-length from Lim's Bullet with Billy Mojo (Nooresh Juglall) third another 1 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 22.68secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.

Boss said the winning margin should theoretically have been one length if not for Mr Crowe’s inclination to spend his energy counterproductively during his pre-race antics.

“He gets worked up in the enclosure, and that’s half a length in energy lost,” said the Australian rider.

“He’s got a nice turn of speed, and we got a nice suck-in behind the leaders. We got pushed in a little, but he quickened through the gap and found a couple of lengths.

“He was rising in grade but I think he can win another one or two races.”

Mr Crowe was recording his third win from 12 starts for prizemoney that is inching close to the $100,000 mark for the Oscar Racing Stable.

Assistant-trainer Shane Ellis praised Boss for his coolness in the saddle.

“He was coming round the outside but a horse knocked him back in,” said Ellis.

“But that probably won him the race in the end. He hit the line very strongly, and it was a beautiful ride by Glen Boss.

“The horse does get on his toes before his races, but if he can settle down better, he will turn into a smart horse.”