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Local trainer Mok Zhan Lun’s patience with Sandtop was finally rewarded with a first Kranji win from the former Macau Group winner in the $45,000 Class 4 Non Premier race over 2000m on Sunday.
A two-time Group 2 winner in the former Portuguese enclave, the 2015 Autumn Trophy (1600m) and 2016 Spring Trophy (1500m), the son of Henrythenavigator has not reproduced that stellar form at his new home since his first local start in October.
The Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2200m) was his main objective, but a rushed preparation to get the late arrival ready for the November blue riband saw him miss the cut on the back of an unplaced run in the lead-up, the Group 3 El Dorado Classic (2200m) in October second-up.
It was back to the drawing board for Mok, but his subsequent runs over a mixed bag of distances did not yield the results connections had been hoping for.
There was the odd flash of brilliance like a fast-finishing third in a Kranji Stakes C race over 1600m when sporting a hood for the first time or even more surprisingly, a flying second over a distance not made to suit – 1200m – in a Class 3 race just last month.
Mok could sense the frustrating run might be coming to an end soon, even booking champion jockey Vlad Duric (Sandtop was ridden by mostly local jockeys at his previous 18 starts) just to find that extra length or two to finally nail that much-needed first win for his long-suffering owner Ho Pui Kim.
The New Zealand-bred six-year-old came from last but got caught in traffic in the middle of the pack to eventually run fifth to Magnificent Gold.
Duric kept the ride and the Singapore champion jockey did not let the chance go begging this time.
He again held him in a rearward spot, but with the benefit of hindsight, the Australian jockey did not wait till the top of the straight to set his mount alight this time.
From the 800m, Sandtop started to skirt around the field three to four wide to sit in a striking position upon greeting the judge. With acres of land before him, Sandtop went through his gears unimpeded, opening up to a commanding break which proved to be unassailable in the end.
Even if it’s taken a drop of 16 points since his first run, the Macau hype was finally lived up to as Sandtop romped in by 2 ¼ lengths from Gold Reward (Barend Vorster) who flew in from the ruck to pinch the runner-up spot from O’Reilly’s Dancer (John Powell) by three parts of a length.
The winning time was 2min 2.24secs for the 2000m on the Short Course.
“I’ve been feeling so much pressure with this horse as to why he can’t win here in Singapore, but he’s slowly got used to the right-hand track,” said Mok.
“Vlad rode him last time and he knows the horse better now. I’d like to thank the owner for his support and patience.
“The main objective of bringing this horse from Macau to Singapore was the Gold Cup. Hopefully, he can run in more staying races to make it this year.”
Duric does not ride a lot for Mok, but was certainly grateful for the leg-up on Sandtop, more so after the last unplaced start.
“Thanks to Mok for giving me another opportunity on this horse,” said the Singapore champion jockey.
“He had no luck at his last start on the Long Course E. Today, I rode him around as there was good speed in the race.
“He’s a big-striding horse, a typical stayer, and I wanted to use his big action to stride forward. He was too strong to the line.”
A winner of close to HK$3 million (around $600,000) in Macau, Sandtop was banking in around $25,000 from that maiden Kranji win which has taken his total earnings to the $60,000 mark.