3 minute read
Odds-on favourite Brother Wind never gave his backers any cause for concern after he raced away to an impressive win in the $65,000 Initiation race over 1400m on Friday night.
Jumping better than expected, the More Than Ready three-year-old, who was at his third start for Hong Kong owner Anthony Fung, took up a handy posie for jockey Vlad Duric before going on to assert his superiority in the home straight.
As the race-leader The Winged Dragon (Chin Chee Seng) weakened, Brother Wind ($9) led the charge and was never in doubt once Duric set him alight. Moment Of Justice (Manoel Nunes) made a late move to run second another 1 ½ lengths away with Sun Mirage (Wong Chin Chuen) third another neck away. The winning time was 1min 24.55secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
Burridge said the wide draw (eight) was a concern he could not ignore, but was glad his ward overcame that with a smart jump.
“He’s not an on-pace horse normally and he was drawn awkwardly, but he jumped well tonight and Vlad rated him very well outside the leader,” said the Australian handler.
“I told Vlad before the race that the field was ordinary and to ride him from the way he jumps.
“It’s good for his Hong Kong owner. He’s also got Chairman Wind with us, but that’s his first winner with us.”
Duric was at his first hop on the former Victorian-based gelding, but he sure did his homework.
“I was confident he was the best horse in the race and I rode him like he was the best horse in the race,” said the Australian jockey who was again drawing level with Manoel Nunes in their ding-dong battle at the top of the Singapore jockey’s premiership – both on 36 winners.
“The horse jumped well tonight and I was able to get him in a good position. He’s still a big baby, but he showed plenty of qualities tonight.
“I have no doubt he’ll be even better when he gets over a bit more ground.”
The win will come as a nice tonic for Burridge, as he was still recovering from a bad flu after coming back from the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.
“I lost my voice. It's only now it's come back a little,” he said in a croaky voice.
“Got a bad bug at the sale. Went there for the gig but ended up buying one, which is all good.”
