3 minute read
In a field featuring eight out of ten runners with zero racing experience, the Laurie Laxon-trained Rathausglockel outshone his peers to claim a smart debut win in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race.
Owned by Sir Peter Vela in partnership with Silver Fern Racing Stable, and named after a hotel and restaurant in Germany, the newcomer has had two barrier trials on turf in New Zealand, and went on to win two barrier trials here at Kranji.
While speedster Supersonicsurprise (Soo Khoon Beng) raced forward upon jumping, hot favourite Fast Edition (Corey Brown) followed behind with second-favourite $17 Rathausglockel (Ravindra Rueven) one-off on his outside in third position.
Turning for home, Rathausglockel picked up speed, while on the outside, $117 longshot Fortune Winner (Koh Teck Huat) was fast-charging down the straight, but came a neck too late to run second. Supersonicsurprise ran third another one-and-a-half-length away.
The winning time on the Polytrack was a smart 59.41secs.
Assistant-trainer Shane Ellis commented that the Pins three-year old gelding still had a lot to learn about racing, but apprentice Rueven has done a good job to extract the best from the newcomer.
“He does some things wrong, and is not yet mentally right up there, but Rueven has worked well with the horse," said Ellis.
“The pacifiers helped too, and on breeding, he could probably go over more ground in future, probably 1400m to 1600m.
“Sir Peter Vela and Laurie had lunch at this German restaurant, and decided to name the horse after that.”
Having partnered Rathausglockel at one barrier trial this month, Rueven revealed that he was not an easy horse to work with, and he played up a little at the barrier gates before the start. The Malaysian rookie is, however, confident that, like all other young horses, he will overcome his greenness with more experience.
“He was pretty nervous at the gates, and definitely needs to learn to relax, but he cruised along to the line very well," said Rueven.
“He is not easy to work with as he is young and still very green, but with more time and experience under his belt, he can go over more ground.”
