3 minute read
Trainer Patrick Shaw may have an embarrassing array of talent in the Group 1 $1.35 million Longines Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m on November 13.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Shaw could have as many as four runners in Singapore's premier staying event including two winners from Friday night's program.
After winning with Power Blitz in the $75,000 Class 3 Stakes over 1600m the stable backed it up with victory through Paulinho in the $95,000 Open Benchmark 97 Stakes over 1800m.
The pair could also be joined by Maurice Utrillo – third behind Paulinho – and Lizarre, a winner a week prior.
Shaw's assistant trainer Ricardo Le Grange said the win of Power Blitz was more special than his first-up win on September 25 after spending 13 months on the sidelines following a foot infection.
With Vorster aboard, Power Blitz scored a fighting half-length win over Alacarte (Alan Munro) with Knight Spirit (Jose Vernezuela) a short head away third.
Le Grange felt Friday night's victory was even more special with the amount of work that has gone into the horse to get him back to the racetrack.
And it will continue as the stable endeavours to get Power Blitz to the Group 1 $1.35 million Longines Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m on November 13.
“This was better than his last win,” said Le Grange. “He came through his first-up run without a problem and hopefully he does again here.
“If he does then it is upwards and onwards toward the Gold Cup.
“We have always felt that he has had the ability for it and he shows a lot of staying ability.
“It was a great ride by Barend tonight and all that we can hope for is that he stays sound.”
Le Grange said Power Blitz would have his shoes removed on Saturday morning and replaced with flip flops until his next race.
“We got his shoes removed the day after he won first-up and we'll do it again,” said Le Grange.
“Touch wood he'll get through this race just as well.”
Vorster said he had to ride Power Blitz a little more forward than what he originally intended as the track was suiting those that raced closer to the speed.
“He's got such a big stride on him but I had to ride him a bit closer than I wanted because the track is racing a bit faster,” said Vorster.
“The thing I like about this horse is that he just keeps giving and giving and giving. He just doesn't know when he is beaten.”
Power Blitz, a six-year-old US-bred gelding by Fusaichi Pegasus from the Sadler's Wells mare Sunday Wish, was a winner over 2011m in the US before arriving in Singapore.
Le Grange said Paulinho, which scored by a nose over Martial Art (Joao Moreira) with Martial Art (Joao Moreira) a length-and-a-half back third, was continuing to improve.
“He just improves everytime he goes to the races,” said Le Grange.
“We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves but we could have four runners in the Gold Cup.
“We will probably look at running him in the Mandai Classic on his way to the Gold Cup.”
Vorster said Paulinho was a tricky horse to ride.
“The harder you ride him the more he responds,” said Vorster. “He just keeps trying and he also shows he can stick on a bit also.”
Paulinho has now won two of three starts since joining Shaw's stable and has shown he is adept on both the turf and Polytrack surfaces.
A four-year-old Argentinean bred by Equal Stripes from the Ride The Rails mare Paula Sexy, Paulinho has now won three of his seven starts in Singapore and around $140,000 in prizemoney for the Malkinsky Stable.
The Shaw-Vorster combination kicked off their treble when Fifth Dan took out the $65,000 Initiation Stakes over 1600m, the race preceding the win of Power Blitz.
Vorster made it a four-timer for the evening when he guided Hey Toro to victory in the final event, the $55,000 Class 4 Stakes over 1200m.