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Versatile galloper Warspirit cracked the $200,000 mark in prizemoney with an all-the-way victory in the $75,000 Spring Festival Stakes over 1200m on Monday.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
Ridden by apprentice Tan Wei Li, Warspirit held on to score by a neck from Boundless Glory (Greg Cheyne) with Encosta Diablo (Shafiq Rizuan) a further two-and-three-quarter lengths back in third place.
The victory gave Tan a race-to-race double after he led throughout aboard Rich Born in the $35,000 Lunar new Year Stakes over 1600m.
Tan bounced Warspirit quickly from the gates and took the gelding to the head of affairs on settling down before giving him a breather.
On turning for home Tan upped the ante and the gelding lengthened stride, opening up a two length break on the chasing pack.
Passing the 200m mark Warspirit looked all set for a comfortable win until out of the pack emerged Boundless Glory, cutting back the margin to a shrinking neck on the line.
New Zealand conditioner Mark Walker said Warspirit had finally strengthened into an improving galloper.
After beginning his career with three placings from three starts in New Zealand, Warspirit won on debut in Singapore and has since added a further four victories over distances ranging from 1200m to 1800m with placings also up to 2000m.
“He’s finally got stronger and I think that’s why he’s racing so well,” said Walker.
“He’s come back from a break in excellent form and it was a really good win today.
“Wei Li gave him a really good ride as well. He jumped from one inside the outside barrier and had to use him up early to get across.
“He was able to give him a breather in the middle stages and then got a break on them early in the straight.
“Wei Li’s starting to listen now and it’s starting to show through in his riding. He’s improving all the time.”
Walker said he was likely to give Warspirit plenty of time to get over Monday’s victory.
"I’m not sure where we’ll go with him now,” said Walker. “We’ve got a few options but he’s had quite a hard run today.
“We might just give him a bit of time to get over it now.”
Warspirit is a five-year-old New Zealand bred by Scaredee Cat from Lucerne and is raced by the Very Stable.
