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After a very green Bourbon Goldman beat the ambulance home at his second start at Kranji last March, jockey Jose Verenzuela jumped off shaking his head as he told trainer Mok Zhan Lun to “throw away this horse”.
Seven months later, Verenzuela is happy Mok did not take his words literally, even if they were said in jest.
Jumping back on top of Bourbon Goldman since that 72-length drubbing, on Sunday, the Venezuelan jockey could tell straightaway he had a different proposition under him as the Gallant Guru four-year-old overcame a tough trip three wide without cover to go and account for a handy lot made up of the likes of Flash Gift, Hypernova and even stablemate Black Unicorn in the $75,000 Class 3 race over 1200m.
Eclair Flyer (Koh Teck Huat) took up the running, but on the outside of favourite Flash Gift (Manoel Nunes) who hugged the rails throughout, while Bourbon Goldman ($19) was trapped three deep in third, after breaking from the outermost alley in the 11-horse field.
Despite being out of his comfort zone, Bourbon Goldman looked to be travelling well within his own steam, but if there was to be a showdown with Flash Gift down the home straight, the ground-saving run on the rails should normally prove the telling factor.
The outcome was pointing towards that logic once Nunes set Flash Gift alight upon straightening. In a few bounds, the US-bred gelding seemed to have his first win at his fourth attempt since resuming from his three-in-a-row from last year well within his grasp, but Verenzuela had other ideas.
Bourbon Goldman showed he was anything but a spent force as he suddenly burst clear inside the last 100m to score by three parts of a length from Flash Gift. Luwak Coffee (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) ran on late for third another three parts of a length away. The winning time was 1min 9.45secs.
“The horse was a cripple when I first rode him. I told Mok to stop and check him and he’s put him aside for a while,” said Verenzuela.
“Mok’s done a really good job to bring him back to that level. He has really improved, but he was always in trouble at his last few runs when he got checked and had no luck in running.
“I kept him in the clear today, but he was still very green. When Flash Gift came alongside, I followed him as I didn’t want him to get further away from me.
“I gave my horse a couple of cracks and he quickened very well for me in the last bit. He’s a totally different horse from the one I first rode.”
Mok said a spot of acupuncture seems to have worked wonders on the horse personally bought in New Zealand by Mr Ong Boon San.
“When Verenzuela lost on him by more than 70 lengths, he actually told me to throw him away,” said the Singaporean conditioner.
“I sent him for some acupuncture treatment on his back and it seems to have improved him dramatically, especially as his mind was not quite there before.
“From the wide barrier, I thought it would be hard for him today. He was caught three wide, but still won well and beat a pretty good field.
“I’ll see how he pulls up and if he goes for the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge next year, I will have to step him up in distance at some stage. But I will have to take him through his classes first.”
Bourbon Goldman has now recorded three wins from nine starts for stakes earnings in excess of $135,000 for his connections.