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Winning a race only to find out it was declared null and void a few minutes later could not have been a worst kick in the guts for trainer Cliff Brown, but luckily, a winner came to soothe the pain two races later.
After seven barren runs, Key On Kodiac (Michael Rodd) finally crossed the line first in a close four-way thriller in Friday’s opening race, the $35,000 Singapore-Canada Friendship Stakes, a Class 5 Division 1 race over 1400m, but the Inquiry sign soon flashed. After viewing the film as the start was being effected, the Stewards decided to call the race null and void.
Brown was down but not out. Two races later, he saddled two runners Be Bold (Rodd) and Lim’s Archer (Vlad Duric) in the $60,000 Manulife Cup, a Class 4 Division 2 race over 1200m, and it was the latter who turned up with a nail-biter to give his trainer some solace after the earlier disappointment.
At the 200m, favourite Knight Judge looked home for Gerald Mosse, but Duric rode like there was no tomorrow inside the last 200m, lifting Lim’s Archer over the line to get the verdict by a head.
Brown, who has an even bigger test coming up later with Singapore Horse of the Year Debt Collector making his comeback in the Canada Cup (1400m), stayed philosophical about such vagaries in racing.
“It was a false start and we had to cop it on the chin. I hope that horse (Key On Kodiac) can win a race again,” he said sportingly.
“Lim’s Archer showed ability early doors but I think I rushed him a little at his first prep. He is still work in progress.
“I had a change of heart about him and gave him more time. Tonight’s win was very good, let’s wait and see how he progresses, but he seems to be a genuine performer.”
With that 11th success, Duric was extending his newfound lead in the Singapore jockey’s premiership, and even put in another space with Kate’s Keeper in the very next race, the $80,000 Scotiabank Cup, a Kranji Stakes C race over 1800m.
“I had a three-week break in December and it’s taken a while to get my fitness back but the luck is back and things are going very well for me now,” said the Australian about his return to form.
“Lim’s Archer is a very nice horse and he travelled very nicely for me throughout. We were held up at the top of the straight, but on the Long Course, I was quite confident I could get out for a clear run.
“Michael’s (Rodd) horse (Be Bold) was rolling out and I thought I’d take the inside run, but in the end I went around him and the horse hit the line better than he ever had.”
A four-year-old by Epsom Derby winner Authorized, Lim's Archer was recording his second win from nine starts for stakes earnings past the $90,000 mark for the Lim’s Stable.