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Showers at Kranji prompted a more positive ride aboard Mexborough Boy who certainly enjoyed the tactical change to come out tops in the $60,000 Class 4 race (1100m) on Friday.
The Theo Kieser-trained galloper was bounced out by Oscar Chavez from his gate No 3 to immediately take up a handy spot in the running line, settling nicely behind Imperial Boy (Joseph See) and Bellus Wonder (Matthew Kellady).
At the top of the straight, it was still anybody’s race but it was Mexborough Boy who produced the best turn of foot to go all the way to the line.
Bellus Wonder stuck on well for second another 1 1/2 lengths away, touching out Golden Tomahawk (Syafiq Hazman) by a nose. The winning time was 1min 6.03secs for the 1100m trip on the Polytrack.
An obviously pleased Kieser credited Chavez for the late plan to run a forward race when the heavens opened.
“It was Oscar’s idea to try and settle him in the front three because of the rain,” said the South African-born trainer.
“Perhaps some of the other horses were in the wrong places because horses don’t like the kickback and the dirt flying up on a rainy day.
“Where he runs next depends on how many points the handicapper gives him. He is probably looking at Class 3 but we will keep him at 1100m to 1200m.”
Chavez played down his part in coming up with the change in tactics, saying you still need to have the right tools to get the job done.
“When the rain came in, I knew there would be too much kickback if we stayed too far behind so I got him going early on," said Chavez.
“He rolled on from the 600m mark and around the 350m, he went at it 100% all the way.”
With this win, Mexborough Boy has brought home in excess of $215,000 in stakes earnings for Kieser, who is both his owner and trainer.