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Trainer Ricardo Le Grange saddled a quinella with Mighty Emperor and Super Joe at the conclusion of a tight finish to the $60,000 Class 4 race over 1700m on Friday night.
In the running, Mighty Emperor (Vlad Duric) settled in an ideal fourth spot not too far off pacesetter Hero In The Wind (Mohd Zaki) before being produced upon straightening to be set on his way towards a solid win while Super Joe (Nooresh Juglall) had to come from last and around runners to make his run, eventually making a beeline to the post to run a one-length second to his stablemate.
The winning time was 1min 45.41secs for the 1700m on the Polytrack. Le Grange had a third runner in the race, Terms Of Reference (Barend Vorster), who ran fifth.
The first-year South African handler said that on fitness alone, he had expected a bold run from Mighty Emperor, an opinion seemingly shared by punters going with the joint $16 favourite quote of the South African-bred five-year-old by Kahal, alongside the Alwin Tan-trained Happy Saga.
“He was super fit. That was his third run in June and he also got a great ride by Vlad,” said Le Grange.
“He was also coming back on Polytrack, over which he has won all his races.
“As for Super Joe, he is his own worst enemy. He does not muster speed early and he was also giving weight, but he still ran on well for second.
“Well done to the Avengers Stable for another winner.”
Duric, who keeps stretching his lead at the top of the Singapore jockey’s premiership with another winner that brings his score to 43 winners, nine clear of Alan Munro, had never sat on Mighty Emperor before, but he more than made up for it by doing his homework.
“He was off the bridle and relaxed the whole race,” said the Australian hoop.
“I knew he was a very fit horse and as they didn’t go hard, we hit the front early and he was strong to the line.”
With that sixth win, Mighty Emperor has now taken his earnings past the $230,000 mark for the Avengers Stable.