3 minute read

With an overseas racing history that reads a 2100m winner in Ireland, two starts in Group 2 and Group 3 races over 2400m and 2700m before being shipped over to Singapore, The Capital would not have been a popular pick if lined up in a 1200m Polytrack race first-up at Kranji.

That is exactly what happened on Sunday when he made his local debut in the $60,000 Ninetyfive Emperor 2004 & 2005 Stakes, a Class 4 race over 1200m on Polytrack, but racing is never an exact science.

The five-year-old gelding previously known as Father Christmas delivered a most unexpected early present when he blew away his sprinter rivals in sterling fashion.

Ridden by Barend Vorster, the latest Irish acquisition by Thai outfit Falcon Racing Stable is the first to score among a raft of similar imports renamed with politically-inspired names like Politics, Excellency and Parliament, and who have already been rolled out at Kranji.

Even though The Capital won two barrier trials at Kranji, and comfortably – by aggregate margins in excess of six lengths - sceptics outnumbered fans.

It was hard to imagine him beating seasoned sprinters like Montaigne, Cactus Jack or Keen Dragon at their game at his very first local outing – almost a year since his last - even if on class, they were like chalk and cheese. After all, Father Christmas ran third in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes (2400m) at Ascot in 2015 when prepared by leading Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien.

But when Vorster brought The Capital within striking distance at the 300m, it was soon clear that new Falcon Racing import was not just having a warm-up run.

The five-year-old son of Bernardini just scorched away inside the last 100m to quickly put a space between him and the rest. It was left to another newcomer in Red Claw (Olivier Placais) to issue a late challenge, but which proved futile as The Capital had already romped in by 2 ¼ lengths.

Red Claw did well to secure second place with Montaigne (Salim Yusoff) third another short head away. The winning time was 1min 11.75secs for the 1200m on Polytrack.

The Capital returned $35 for a win bet, an indication there was after all some level of support from some quarters, presumably by those mindful of his class and two winning barrier trials, which are nonetheless, always a fairly reliable guide on the lead-up form.

Vorster, who sat aboard at both trial wins, for one kept an open mind when he headed out to the starting gates.

“From Day 1, he confused me. He is supposed to be an out-and-out stayer but he was very forward in his trials,” said the South African hoop.

“I thought I’d play it by ear at his first run. I was able to park him up nice and comfortable and I just bided my time.

“In the straight, he quickly extended and surprised me with the way he won a 1200m race.

“I’ve learned not to get too carried away with horses, but it will be interesting to see where he’s going to go, especially as we step him up in distance.”

Winning trainer Ricardo Le Grange, who was claiming the trainer’s challenge for the day with a hat-trick of wins having earlier scored with Cadet and Elusive Emperor, was delighted the owners had finally been rewarded with a first return to their massive investment in those highly-credentialled Irish horses, the majority of whom also hail from O’Brien and Coolmore.

“It’s good that one of those Irish horses has won for the Thai owners. Hopefully the rest will follow soon,” said Le Grange.

“This winner came here with a couple of issues but luckily, we managed to get on top of them. He showed quite a bit at his trials, although on his Irish reputation, he is potentially more of a stayer.

“After a year’s layoff, you never know how they will perform, but on the way he won today, I think he definitely has plenty of ability.”