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Jockey Michael Rodd’s unwavering faith in Mr Fatkid was repaid after the smart three-year-old got back onto the scoresheet on Friday night.
The Australian rider partnered the son of Mettre En Jeu at two of his three runs following his debut win with jockey Corey Brown last November. They finished third on both occasions while Vlad Duric was able to go a shade better at the other start with a second.
But Rodd went back to the drawing board, reviewed the races and knew it was just a matter of getting all the ducks in a row for the Frankie Lim-owned galloper to get him to bounce back to winning ways.
And that perfect scenario occurred in Friday’s $60,000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1400m when a fast tempo and an ideal spot in transit paved the way to a resounding 1 ½-length win from Redmayne (Glen Boss).
The Laurie Laxon-trained and Oscar Stable-owned galloper did issue a stiff challenge as he snuck up on his inside at the 200m, but Mr Fatkid dug deep and lived up to his favourite tag of $12 to hold him comfortably at bay.
Really Capable (Vlad Duric) who pinched a break at the top of the straight, did try to steal the race, but was found wanting when Mr Fatkid and Redmayne raced past. He still fought on valiantly to hang on for third place another 2 ½ lengths away, half-a-length ahead of Irish debutant Gold Faith (Alan Munro), a horse owned by leading Hong Kong owner Pan Sutong of Akeed Mofeed and Gold-Fun fame.
Second favourite Chalaza (Danny Beasley), a winner at his last two outings, never reproduced the same form this time around to wind up in 10th place, more than seven lengths off the winner.
“He’s a lovely horse. Last start, he was the victim of circumstances when he didn’t get out of the gates that well,” said Rodd of Mr Fatkid.
“I had to ride him for luck. The field got away from him, but he still did well to run on for third.
“He was also unlucky at his previous start, but tonight, things worked out better. He was still overdoing things at the 600m, but the fast pace suited him and he let down really well.”
Trainer Cliff Brown, who already saddled three horses in the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) last Sunday, Sir Isaac (third), Draco (fifth) and Deimos (eighth), has not quite decided if Mr Fatkid could be another stable banner in the remaining Legs.
The second Leg is the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 14 while the third Leg is the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on May 14. Should he throw Mr Fatkid in the mix, Brown is at this stage leaning more towards the Guineas.
“He is looking for the mile. He could possibly go for the Guineas, but I’ll see how he pulls up and have a think whether to back him up,” said the Australian trainer who was at the double after Divided House saluted one race earlier, also with Rodd up.
“He is a really nice horse, even if he’s still a baby. There was a good strong pace and that suited him tonight.”
Mr Fatkid has now taken his stakes earnings close to the $100,000 mark with that second win from five starts.
