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Consistent performer Meteor Mike will go for a well deserved break following his victory in the $95,000 Open Benchmark 89 Stakes over 1200m on Friday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Ridden by Jose Verenzuela, Meteor Mike scored a three-quarter length victory over Shaolin Soldier (Alan Munro) with Valevole (Greg Cheyne) a length away third.
Meteor Mike stopped the clock at a time of 1 min 10.32 secs on the yielding track.
Valevole was hunted out of the barriers to go forward and lead from Texan Takeover (Steven Baster) with Meteor Mike taking the sit in third place.
Prior to the hometurn Verenzuela elected to go forward whereby Baster tried to push out on Texan Takeover to go and join Valevole, but the run closed and Texan Takeover had to check and then seemed to lose interest in the race.
Passing the 400m Meteor Mike was taken to the lead and he quickly got the upperhand before Shaolin Soldier emerged from the pack over the final 150m, eventually cutting back the margin.
Verenzuela said Meteor Mike had had enough by the time the finishing line was reached after doing some work mid-race.
“He probably got to the front too soon,” said Verenzuela. “He gets to the front and then thinks his job is done.
“He had probably had enough on the line, but he’s a real trier and he did travel really well through the race today.
“This company suits him and he had a nice weight tonight and has done a good job.”
Trainer David Hill said Meteor Mike would go off and have a good break before returning to racing in the New Year.
“That’s him done for the year,” said Hill. “He can go off now and have a break.
“He doesn’t like racing on the Polytrack and with Polytrack racing coming up for the rest of the year it’s a good time for him to have a break.
“He’s a nice old horse who has had a pretty good year so he should come back well next year.
“Jose really suits this horse. He doesn’t hang as bad as he can for some of the others.
“He also lets him do all the work rather than making him do it.”
A six-year-old South African-bred by Mogok from the Spaceship mare Moondust, Meteor Mike has won five of his 26 starts with a further 14 minor placings and Friday night’s victory took his prizemoney past the $400,000 for owners Newbury Racing.