3 minute read
Leading trainer Patrick Shaw continued his affinity with the New Year Cup collecting his fourth success over the weekend with the progressive Perfect P.
Shaw collected his first success in 2013 with Escamonda before Lizarre in 2013 and Quechua in 2015.
Assembling a strong hand in this year’s feature, Shaw saddled up four runners including recent Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup [2200m] winner Cooptado.
Dual Group 1 winner Quechua headed the weights with Emperor's Banquet and Perfect P rounding out Shaw’s team.
A game third in the Gold Cup, Perfect P enjoyed a perfect run in transit with the Desmond Koh trained Order Of The Sun adopting his usual pacemaker roll.
Ridden by Nooresh Jugglal, Perfect P always travelled strongly just off the speed before quickly taking over passing the 300m.
Letting down strongly Perfect P raced away and quickly put the race out of doubt, saluting by three and a half lengths.
His fifth win from eight starts the son of Perfectperformance has continued to impress and raise the bar since arriving in Singapore.
Having recorded a new career peak in the Singapore Gold Cup, Perfect P went on to confirm that figure on Friday night.
Perfect P now remains one of the more promising stayers in Singapore as he continues his upwards spiral.
Since breaking through at his second start for Shaw in July last year, Perfect P has improved more than 25 pounds and is clearly heading in the right direction.
The Desmond Koh trained Order Of The Sun continued his good run of form when sticking on well to finish second.
A Group 3 winner two back, Koh appears to have found the key to the son of Encosta De Lago placing in six of his last seven starts.
Talented stayer Quechua ran on gamely to finish third but was no match with the big weight.
While not rated as high as his performance from the Gold Cup two back, Quechua’s consistency is second to none.
Since joining Shaw's care in the beginning of 2014, Quechua has lined up 17 times in Singapore, placing in 16 and winning five.
Under handicap conditions he will require all the favours if he is to be victorious, however at WFA he remains one of the best stayers in Singapore.
On Sunday evening the Laurie Laxon trained Huka Falls turned back the clock when breaking through for his 15th career win.
Having failed to fill the placings at his three starts prior, Huka Falls displayed sharp improvement off a slight freshen (30 days).
One of Singapore’s star sprinters, Huka Falls was well placed at the weights and proceeded to take full advantage of the favourable race shape.
A noted flier on the polytrack, 13 of his 15 wins have come on the all-weather surface.
In-form hoop Michael Rodd continued his association with the six-year-old having placed in five of seven attempts previously.
Having enjoyed a lovely run in transit, Huka Falls always travelled well and while vulnerable late in the piece, he fought hard to hold out the fast finishing El Padrino.
Marked up to his career peak, Huka Falls is clearly more than capable on his day and can bring up back to back wins if able to hold that form.
The Alvin Tan trained El Padrino returned in great order although unable to reel in Huka Falls.
Anchored with the big weight he reeled off a very slick closing sectional and has to be followed at his next outing.
A winner of 10 of his 38 career starts, he is one of the best sprinters in Singapore and if able to build on that first up run another win shouldn't be far away.
