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Trainer Patrick Shaw gang tackled the $150,000 Causeway Classic Stakes over 1800m on the Polytrack on Sunday and came up trumps when South Easter scored a fighting win.
Riding the pace throughout under Saimee Jumaat, South Easter scored by a head over Samurai Phoenix (John Sundradas) with Parfumier (Joao Moreira) another head further back in third place.
South Easter ran the 1800m journey in 1 min 51.97 secs, just 0.67 secs outside of Hazza's track record.
Shaw also saddled up Trafalgar Legacy (Olivier Placais) and Thundering Jet (Barend Vorster) and it was South Easter that sat in second place behind the speed set by Trafalgar Legacy which was having his first outing since his Emirates Singapore Derby third-placing behind Clint last month.
Going down the back with 700m to run, Vorster made a challenge up three and four wide on the track to challenge the stablemates and prior to straightening the trio were fighting for the lead.
After straightening though Moreira pushed out from behind Trafalgar Legacy and South Easter on Parfumier while Samurai Phoenix joined in four wide.
In a thrilling battle over the final 200m Parfumier, which was a $16 equal top pick with Trafalgar Legacy, hit the front only to see South Easter ($22) rally again and then hold off the late lunge of Samurai Phoenix.
The victory also brought together Saimee and Shaw who don't partner up all that often but have a good strike-rate when they do.
“We have had our success over the years,” said Shaw. “Naturally with my other riders like Barend and Olivier I don't always have a lot of rides for him, but when we have teamed up in the past we have had some success.
“When the field came out and we had three runners in the field, I had to find a lightweight rider for this horse.
“I didn't know if he had a ride in the race, but we got on the phone quickly and luckily we were able to get him.
“He is a very good rider and importantly he was able to ride the horse at the weight.
“He rode him exactly how I wanted him ridden and the horse responded well to his hard riding.”
South Easter was backing-up from a last start second behind Dejayal on August 7, where under the steadier of 59.5kg he was beaten two-and-a-quarter lengths over 1700m.
“He's an out-and-out stayer and the weight drop today was certainly in his favour,” said Shaw.
“He's a horse that stays all-day and the 1800m, 2000m and 2200m are his ideal distances.
“If he was to get a wet track in the (Longines Singapore) Gold Cup later in the year off a nice weight then he would give it a great shot.”
Saimee said he couldn't remember his last ride for Shaw but added that they had had quite a deal of success over the years.
“I haven't ridden for Pat all that much in recent years but usually when I do he provides me with a winner,” said Saimee.
“Pat certainly knows when to call me.”
Saimee was full of praise for the victory of South Easter who he said had been headed by Parfumier in the straight.
“He just keeps going and really fought the race out,” said Saimee. “The other horse headed him, but he just got lower and kept trying all the way to the line.
“Full praise must go to Pat. I had never ridden the horse before and he gave me great instructions.”
Shaw said he got a special kick out of the win of South Easter who is owned by two special friends – Bernard Kantor and Markus Jooste.
An Irish-bred five-year-old by Galileo from the Nureyev mare Dance Treat, South Easter landed his second win from 10 starts since his arrival in Singapore on top of two minor placings and took his prizemoney to around $150,000 for connections.
