3 minute read
Trainer Leslie Khoo continued his recent good form when Good Towkay took out the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1200m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Ridden by Australian jockey Stephen Baster, Good Towkay held off a late bid from Kompressor (Ivaldo Santana) to score by a half-length with Fifth Dan (Barend Vorster) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Khoo scored in the last race on Friday night with Volkov and following the win of Good Towkay sits just one winner behind Michael Freedman on the Trainers' Premiership Table with 21 winners for the year.
Khoo said he expected a forward showing from Good Towkay after the three-year-old produced a good second behind Ferrobond at his last start on March 11.
“He ran a very good race last time and I kept him fresh for this race,” said Khoo. “I didn't have to do too much with him after his last run as he went into the fit.
Stephen rode a very good race on him as well. He knows the horse very well and judged it very well.”
With dual victories over 1200m and one over 1400m, Khoo said he believes Good Towkay will appreciate stepping up in distance in the future.
“He relaxes very well in his races and I think he will handle a longer distance without any worries,” said Khoo.
“He likes the turf track as well so there are some chances there for him.”
Baster said Good Towkay was a “bit sharper today” than when he was second at his only previous ride on the gelding.
“He was off the bridle the whole way last time but he was a lot fresher today,” said Baster.
“I made Robert E (John Powell) do a bit of work to get across me and when he relaxed in front I was able to go up and put some pressure on.
“Once I got past him in the straight I was pretty confident that we would be hard to beat from there.
“He's a tough little horse and I knew he would keep going. That's the beauty of riding Leslie's horses – you know they are always fit.”
A New Zealand-bred three-year-old by Towkay from the Centaine mare Outstripping, Good Towkay landed his third win from 18 starts for the Trend Stable and took his prizemoney to in excess of $100,000.
