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Trainer Laurie Laxon is one of the first to pencil in the inaugural $200,000 Group 3 CECF Singapore Classic (1400m) to be run as one of the two marquee races launched by the China Horse Club at Kranji.
This will be on February 22 after Mexican Gal scored an impressive win on Friday night.
The 1400m race is the only race open to Singapore-based horses, while the $3.05 million Group 1 CECF Singapore Cup (1800m) will feature only horses raced by China Horse Club members.
While the daughter of Laxon’s former champion filly Mexican Rose may not be in the same league as her mother and has yet to venture over seven furlongs, Laxon thought the CECF Singapore Classic, a handicap race for three-year-olds, would fit her like a glove.
“She’s still going through her grades, but she is not without ability,” said the nine-time Singapore champion trainer.
“I will set her for that 1400m race during the Chinese New Year. She will get 1400m all right.
“It sure looks like it’s gone the way it was always meant to be tonight – fast pace and she just takes a sit and comes home.
“She was hanging in as she always does in the home straight, but she was too good for them.”
Winning jockey Manoel Nunes, who was at his first winning combination with Mexican Gal, said he did pull his whip through to his left hand when the Encosta De Lago filly started to roll in onto Mac Volks (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) who matched motors with Yin Jie (Alan Munro) to set a searing pace to the race in the initial stages.
“She was hanging in but luckily, when I changed the stick to the left hand, she went straight,” said the 2014 Singapore champion jockey.
“She’s not a very big horse but she’s got a big heart and is very tough. She jumped well and put herself there without me having to do much, and she was very relaxed.
“I was lucky to sit behind the other two and they went really quick. Once I took her to the outside she attacked the line very well.
“I think she will get over more ground at some stage, probably 1400m.”
Mexican Gal has now recorded three wins and three placings from eight runs for stakes earnings closing in on the $150,000 mark for the Jupiter Stable.
