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A dream run off a frantic pace upfront paved the way to a thumping win from favourite Oliver on Friday night.
Taking a lovely drop behind the speed set by a fleet-footed trio made up of Mings Man (A’Isisuhairi Kasim), Yulong Sheng Long (Michael Rodd) and Golden Thunder (Koh Teck Huat), Oliver (Barend Vorster) had “just say when” written all over as he was peeled off for his run at the top of the straight.
Vorster had not budged yet on the $12 favourite - and they had already drawn on level terms with the fading trio. Once the South African jockey cut the ribbons, Oliver gapped his rivals for the easiest of wins.
Wonderful Era (Azhar Ismail) was the first among the beaten brigade five lengths away, just holding off the fast-finishing Sun Elizabeth (Olivier Placais) by a nose. The winning time was 1min 39.38secs for the Polytrack mile.
“Mad pace and he had good form,” said winning trainer Shane Baertschiger, summing up the win in a few words.
“He was also down in the weights. Hopefully, that will be a confidence booster for him.”
Vorster said he wished winning races were as simple as that one.
“Easy as,” he said as he jumped off.
“Shane told me not to keep him too close to the leaders as he pulls up. We had the one draw and I had him not too far but comfortable.
“He was nice in his action. Once I had him balanced up, I waited for the last 350m to ask him and he responded with a very nice turn of foot.
“It’s nice when horses produce like this. They make your job easier.”
A six-year-old by Encosta De Lago, Oliver has now taken his record to two wins and five placings from 25 starts and close to $90,000 in stakes earnings for the H&M Stable.