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Lightly-raced three-year-old Bravo stamped himself as a possible Sinagpore Guineas contender with his victory in the $65,000 Initiation Stakes over 1600m on Sunday.
Providing champion jockey Joao Moreira with his fourth victory from the first six races, Bravo scored a short-head victory over Slayer (Manoel Nunes) with Sweet Lodge (Greg Cheyne) two lengths away third.
Moreira gave Bravo the run of the race in third position on the fence behind Breaking Vaults (Matthew Kellady) and Slayer.
Turning for home Slayer took over and Moreira was able to work his way off the fence and into the clear, issuing a challenge with 300m to run.
The pair settled down to a neck and neck struggle over the final 200m. After looking set for a comfortable victory, Bravo started to stargaze allowing Slayer to raise another effort, but on the line Bravo prevailed by a narrow margin.
Trainer Desmond Koh said Bravo deserved a shot at the Group 1 Singapore Guineas over 1600m in May.
“He’s a very talented horse,” said Koh. “We would like to aim towards the Guineas if we can get him there.
“He’s a horse that keeps improving all the time and is definitely suited over more ground and with the Guineas run over this trip then he deserves a shot at it.”
Moreira, who had scored earlier wins aboard Risky Business, War Lord and Super Ninetyseven, said Bravo jumped from the barriers a lot better on Sunday and that certainly helped pave the way to victory.
“He usually jumps a bit slow but he jumped right today and put himself right into a nice position,” said Moreira.
“When he got to the front he wanted to look around and wait for the other horse to come back to him, but he put in a brave fight to win.
“Whether he is up to the Guineas at this stage I’m not too sure but I do think that he has a nice future.”
A New Zealand-bred three-year-old by Handsome Ransom from Feel On, Bravo was having his sixth start on Sunday. He had been placed on three previous occasions before breaking his maiden status on Sunday for owner Koh Kheng Lye.