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Australian-bred gelding Tenzing scored his first major success in Singapore when he took out the Group 3 $200,000 Fortune Bowl over 2000m on Tuesday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Lucky to avoid interference during the race, Tenzing, ridden by Danny Beasley, scored a last stride win over Mitre Peak (Subramaniam Anandan) by a short head with Fatkid (Ivaldo Santana) three lengths away third.
Beasley had Tenzing at the tail of the field as the field settled down where South Easter (John Powell) led the way over Smoking Joe (Matt Kellady), Flying Fulton (Opie Bosson) and Parfumier (Joao Moreira).
Going down the back straight the field started to bunch where Joyful Heart Man (Saimee Jumaat) and Fatkid, who had been trapped wide, edged closer to the leaders.
Eventually Santana elected to drift back towards the tail on Fatkid and the pace had steadied approaching the 1000m mark.
Shortly after Smoking Joe went amiss and the field became disorganised with Power Blitz (Barend Vorster) copping the worst of the interference.
It was at this stage that Beasley was able to creep forward on the fence to be within three lengths of the leaders turning for home where Parfumier had taken over from South Easter and Flying Fulton with Mitre Peak also in close attendance.
Into the straight and Anandan asked Mitre Peak for his effort and passing the 200m mark he had opened up a two length lead with Tenzing out towards the centre of the track entering a serious challenge.
Tenzing continued to whittle away the margin and on the line he put in a big bound to land the Group 3 prize with Fatkid, who had copped some of the backwash when Smoking Joe broke down, running on gamely at the finish.
For trainer Cliff Brown it was his third “black type” success following on from his win in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby with Clint and Zac Influence in the Group 3 Proinn Construct Stakes last year.
Tenzing had been sent to Singapore by his Australian connections to contest last year's Derby but failed to complete the course following a bleeding attack which saw the gelding sent for a “big spell”.
“Not a lot has gone right for him this time in,” said Brown. “He ran into a wet track at his first run back and then he's had no luck at his last two starts.
“He's a horse that has needed to get out to a trip and onto the bigger track on the turf.
“We were probably a bit fortunate to win as the field was opened up when that horse broke down and luckily we were able to miss all the interference.
“It's a great result for the whole stable. For Tim (Fitzsimmons), Chris (Bock) and Sabri, who rides him in all his work. It is shared by them all.
“And also for Danny. He's been riding well and hopefully this will be an added confidence booster as well.”
Brown said he was inclined to give Tenzing a bit of a let-up and look to the Group 2 Queen Elizabeth II Cup over 2000m in April with him.
“We have no specific plans at the moment,” said Brown. “I'll go away and see what is around but I might give him a let-up now and we may head to the QEII Cup.”
Beasley said the only time that Tenzing had put his head in front was right on the line.
He said he was surprised at how big a kick Mitre Peak had given soon after straightening for home.
“Full marks must go to (Hideyuki) Takaoka and his team for what they have done with the second horse,” said Beasley.
“He had only won a Benchmark 61 race at his previous start but they have pushed him to new heights here.
“The only time we got our head in front was right on the line. On the hometurn I thought it was just going to be a matter of picking them up.”
Beasley said it was always his intention to have Tenzing settled towards the back of the field.
“I just wanted to put him to sleep for the first 1000m of the race,” said Beasley. “I didn't want him thinking too much.
“He's a good stayer and I think that win will give him a lot of confidence.”
Tenzing, a five-year-old by Catbird from the Shirley Heights mare Pinnacle, had two wins in Australia before heading to Singapore where his record now stands at four wins from 13 starts and more than $250,000 in prizemoney for the Tarnpirr and Network Stables.