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Barnato’s breathing problems may well be something of the past after he bounced back to winning ways in the $60,000 Fairmont Singapore Cup (1200m ) on Friday.
The Redoute’s Choice four-year-old has not scored since October 2014 when he brought up his second career win for trainer Patrick Shaw and his South African connections, plagued by a respiratory issue that has been his bane for the longest time.
It would seem a wind operation has finally rectified this condition from the way Barnato came with a withering run to hit the front halfway up the straight, but then old habits die hard. As the four-year-old swept past race-leader Faithfully (Troy See) and looked all poised to collect an easy victory, he suddenly pulled his head up forcing his rider Mohd Mansor Firdaus to take corrective measures.
Faithfully (Troy See) unsurprisingly nudged his way back in while No Smoking Jeff (Elione Chaves) was also trying to capitalise on that moment of weakness from the 3-1 favourite, but Firdaus was able to get his mount to scrape home by a neck from Faithfully with No Smoking Jeff third another nose away. The winning time was 1min 12.96secs for the 1200m on Polytrack.
“He’s a hard puller and had some breathing problems. He had a wind op and it paid off straightaway when he was placed at his last start and now he’s won, which shows he’s trying again,” said Shaw.
“The kid is riding with full of confidence at the moment. He’s come back a different rider. He rode this horse very well by punching him out of the gates and keeping him settled throughout.
“Good for the owners – Markus Jooste, Bernard Kantor, Marsh Shirtliff and Chris van Niekerk – who have been very patient with this horse as well. This horse has certainly earned his way for them.”
Barnato has now recorded three wins and five placings from 17 starts for stakes earnings past the $200,000 mark for his owners.
Shaw’s apprentice jockey Firdaus, who currently leads the apprentice premiership, said he was well prepared for Barnato’s antics.
“I had to hunt him up from the start, and then he settled quite well for me, but in the straight, he started pulling up on me and that’s when I changed the whip to the left hand,” said Firdaus.
“It was hard work but luckily, he got there. Thank you to my master for giving me this good opportunity.”