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Singapore champion trainer Laurie Laxon’s farewell meeting did not meet with the dream conclusion he would have wished with his last runner Lim’s Shot in Sunday’s penultimate race, but take nothing away from the horse’s nemesis Caorunn.
Laxon’s grey jumped smartly from barrier No 3 to show the way in the 12-horse field of the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1200m, but Caorunn (John Powell), who had not left him an inch from the break, looked every bit the major threat when he drew upsides at the point of the turn.
Caorunn ($22) slowly gained the ascendancy, but under jockey Manoel Nunes’ hard riding, Lim’s Shot was finding a second wind on the inside.
Could Laxon still get to exit in style after all? But in spite of all of Lim’s Shot’s exertions, Caorunn was not in a mood to budge either as he held sway to record a half-length win from a strong-willed Lim’s Shot who lost no admirers from the way he was busting his guts to give his iconic trainer a happy ending.
Super Fortune (Olivier Placais) who was bidding for a three-from-three, lacked zip inside the last 200m, sticking on for third another 1 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 9.95secs for the 1200m on the Short Course.
Winning trainer Shane Baertschiger might have sounded almost apologetic for having turned party-pooper to Laxon’s do, but it’s clear he would certainly not swap the win for any favour to his next-door neighbour (their blocks are next to each other).
“He ran well at his last start but I think the Long Course brought him undone,” said the Australian handler of Caorunn, who ran fourth in the 2016 Karaka Million when then prepared by his good New Zealand friends Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
“He’s only a small horse, but he’s coming together now. I think he can take the next step-up.
“It was a great win today and JP rode him a treat. It’s just a pity we beat Laurie, but that’s the way it is.”
Though delighted with the hard-fought victory, Powell was in a reflective mood as he has been one of the regular contributors to Laxon’s grand total of 1,263 winners over 17 stellar years in Singapore. Laxon is returning to New Zealand to continue his training career exclusively for good mate Sir Peter Vela.
“I’ve ridden many winners for Laurie, like the Kranji Mile with Waikato (2009) and the Chairman’s Trophy with Mount Street (2006),” said the Australian jockey.
“I’m sad to see him go and I wish him the best.”
Powell said the penny seems to have dropped for Caorunn, but he still needs to have stars to align for him to produce his utmost best.
“He’s running well. He won only one race before, but he’s a horse who needs to be in the right frame of mind, otherwise, he loses the plot,” he said.
“He needs to be in the right position and then he will put it in. I went a lot early today, but luckily, he kept going and it’s worked out fine.”
A four-year-old by popular New Zealand stallion Showcasing, Caorunn has now taken his stakes earnings past the $200,000 mark for owner-trainer Baertschiger.
