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Short-priced favourite Loving You gave her legion of backers a major scare when she could not quite kick clear as widely expected, but to their great relief, the debuting US-bred filly dug deep into her precocious ability to prevail by a head on Sunday.
The Michael Clements-trained newcomer owed much of her ultra-skinny odds ($8) to a 13 ½-length barrier trial rout, but any notion she would treat her Restricted Maiden rivals in the $85,000 race over 1100m with the same contempt was quickly dispelled when the one seen as her main rival, Good Catch, put up a stiff resistance from the top of the straight all the way to the winning post.
A solid second on debut, Good Catch (Nooresh Juglall) led from Loving You (Glen Boss) from the start, and looked to be still travelling with plenty in reserve upon straightening.
Whether Good Catch ($19) would be up to the task when tested was about to be revealed when Loving You ranged upsides to throw down the gauntlet.
The hotpot looked like she would sail past, but Good Catch was in a retaliatory mood. A titanic struggle between the two market leaders ensued, with Good Catch not buckling an inch even if Loving You always held the edge throughout.
Both Boss and Juglall threw everything at their mounts, but Loving You’s will to win, though still raw and untutored, was shatterproof. Third place went to the vastly-improved Centurion (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) a gap of three lengths away.
It is doubtful the down-to-earth Clements was expecting a carbon copy of Loving You’s barrier trial romp, but neither did he think the issue would go down to the wire.
“She’s not very big, only 432kgs. It’s the first time she was put under some form of pressure as she’s had it easy so far,” said the Zimbabwean-born conditioner.
“She didn’t break as well as at her barrier trial, but she did pace up well in second place.
“I didn’t expect it to be so close, but a win is a win. She had to work hard for the win.
“I expect her to improve further from that first run. It’s great for the Falcon Racing Stable; they have a team of youngsters and it’s good to get a win from one of them today.”
A daughter of US stallion Twirling Candy, Loving You clocked 1min 6.84secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
Boss said there was more development to come out from that maiden outing in Singapore.
“It was a good effort considering she had just the one barrier trial and one little jumpout,” said the Australian jockey.
“She was not quick to begin and she lost her composure. She did not win by a long way but she got the job done, as I have a big opinion of the second horse (Good Catch).
“From her trial, she showed she had above-average ability, and I expect her to win more impressively at her next start. She’s still very raw but she’s in the right hands.”
Juglall was obviously disappointed his well-judged ride had not brought the result he had hoped for but still accepted it sportingly.
“My horse gave his all, but the pull in weights (five kilos) made the difference,” said the Mauritian jockey.