3 minute read
Antipodean stretched his unbeaten run to six with a powerful display in the 3YO Pacific Cup over 1200m at Sungai Besi here today.
The New Zealand gelding, purchased by trainer Simon Dunderdale for NZ$23,000 at the Ready To Run sale, has taken local racing by storm since making his debut four months ago.
After easy wins in Open Maiden company, then in Class 4 and Class 3, Antipodean tackled top company for the first time and came out with flying colours in a Metro A set-weight race two weeks ago.
He beat Trumpy into second spot that day and among the other big names in that race were Berry Bliss and Pasir Pinji .
Racing against his own age group today, ANTIPODEAN started at prohibitive odds (RM6) and rightly so.
Jockey Bernardo Pinheiro had him sitting pretty in fifth spot early, moving up to fourth as the field turned for home.
The pacemaker Charming Win was tackled by LAXON approaching the 250m with ANTIPODEAN looming large next. The trio were almost in a line at the 200m, then ANTIPODEAN pulled away soon after and went on to win by three quarters of a length.
RHYTHM OF ZEN finished strongly to beat LAXON for second. Second favourite MILITARY FLAG, who was expected to be the main challenger to ANTIPODEAN, came from a long way back to finish fourth and was doing best work at the finish.
"He (ANTIPODEAN) is an amazing horse, a young horse with a very bright future," said Pinheiro.
"I am so glad to be on board him. This is my third win on him and our first Cup. He showed improvement with each race. He managed to sit well and travelled so good.
"At the of the straight when I asked (him for an effort), he ran home so well. Simon (Dunderdale) did an amazing job with him."
"ANTIPODEAN is a superstar," declared Dunderdale who saddled four winners today.
"He has another gear when it looked he was under pressure. Thanks to Pinheiro for another good ride."
The pair had combined to win the TNI Charity Cup with PASIR PINJI earlier.
All three Singapore based expatriate jockeys who came over today made it to the winner's circle.
Ruan Maia scored on MAESTRO for trainer Cheng Han Yong while Ryan Curatolo was successful on the Dunderdale-trained INTREPID.
But the star today was Pinheiro who won four consecutive races.
