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A freshen up and a drop in class paved the way to victory for Jamal Malik in the $95,000 Philanthropy Stakes over 1600m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Ridden a confident race by jockey Barend Vorster, Jamal Malik scored a comfortable two-and-three-quarter length victory over Silveron Wings (Ronnie Stewart) with U Got It (Benny Woodworth) a short head back in third spot.
Vorster had Jamal Malik travelling comfortably in fourth spot behind the speed set by Golden Number (Jose Verenzuela), U Got It and Cash Luck (Joao Moreira).
Jamal Malak was enjoying the yielding 5.3 track conditions and Vorster was content to bide his time back on the fence until the hometurn was reached where he pulled him away from the outside.
With clear running to the line Jamal Malik powered home to a convincing win and lived up to his Group 2 victory over Better Than Ever back in June.
“The drop in class and the fact he was well handicapped certainly brought him home,” said winning trainer Patrick Shaw.
“The sting out of the track also was an advantage for him and he went into the race nice and fresh.”
It was Jamal Malik's first run since finishing a fading 12th behind Better Than Ever in the Group 1 Kranji Mile over 1600m on October 2.
Shaw said Jamal Malik had gone into the Kranji Mile with a problem and in hindsight should not have started.
“He had a knee infection before his last run and I was a bit hesitant about running him,” said Shaw.
“In hindsight maybe we should have stayed at home with him, but he's freshened up well for this race and he was well in at the handicap.
“The rain that came certainly added to our confidence as he had beaten Better Than Ever under similar track conditions before.”
Vorster said he had a lovely run aboard Jamal Malik in the run and was confident of success a long way from home.
“It was similar weather conditions to what it was when he beat Better Than Ever and I thought this was a suitable field for him,” said Vorster.
“He had a bit of a problem after his last run but we just brought him on quietly. Instead of giving him a trial this week he had one last week and that just gave him a bit more time.
“He's a very smart horse at his best and it's good to get him back into winning form.”
A five-year-old Argentinean-bred by Not For Sale from the Salt Lake mare Capela Da Madalha, Jamal Malik laned his eighth victory in Singapore from 25 starts with a further five placings and took his stake earning to around $575,000 for the Tmen Stable.