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Outstanding three-year-old Huka Falls maintained a perfect Polytrack record with his victory in the $125,000 Kranji Stakes A over 1200m on Sunday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The victory gave the Laurie Laxon-trained gelding his eighth career win from nine starts with his only defeat coming over 1400m at his third race start.
Ridden by Joao Moreira, Huka Falls, the $7 favourite, scored by three-quarters-of-a-length from Masthead (Manoel Nunes) with Captain Obvious (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) a length away third.
Huka Falls was a little slow to begin but quickly mustered speed to settle in third position behind Captain Obvious and Valevole (Barend Vorster).
The gelding held that position until the hometurn before Moreira edged over the heels of the leaders on the turn and into clear galloping room for the first time in the race.
Under hard riding Huka Falls quickly got the better of Valevole while Captain Obvious was fighting on. He eventually got the better Captain Obvious before having to stave off a late challenge by Masthead.
Laxon was full of praise for the gelding which has risen through the grades this campaign and in the process strung together six wins on the trot.
“I thought that was a very good performance,” said Laxon. “He missed the start a bit and he had to be ridden a bit patient.
“Once he hit the front in the straight I think he got a bit lazy and wanted to switch off.
“He got there in the end and that’s the best race he’s run in so far so he’s progressing quite well.”
Laxon said Huka Falls would contest the Group 3 $200,000 Merlion Trophy over 1200m on May 15 and then the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the Group 3 $200,000 Singapore Three-year-Old Sprint over 1200m on March 31.
“The Merlion Trophy will be his next start,” said Laxon. “It’s in a couple of weeks and run at weight-for-age.
“After that he can go to the first Leg of the Three-Year-Old Series which is on March 31 and then we’ll decide what to do with him.
“I think the only time he was beaten he was a bit immature to get the 1400m.
“He’s got a half-brother back in New Zealand that was at his best over 1200m and that may be the same with this horse.”
Moreira said he had some minor concerns during the race as the field raced a little bit tight at various stages during the race.
“He was a little slow to start but he quickly got up there but we were racing a little bit tight,” said Moreira.
“I was worried about getting a check and stopping his momentum and that was at the time I was wanting to come out.
“When he finally did get clear he finished the race off strongly.
“He’s a pretty smart horse and one of the best horses here.
“I’m just the lucky guy to be sitting on top of him.”
Huka Falls is by Align from Diamond Lady and Sunday’s success took his prizemoney to around $370,000 for Laxon’s Silver Fern Racing.