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Debut winner Easy Does It had a happy bunch of new owners experiencing the joy of racing a winner at their baptism of fire on Sunday.
The three-year-old is the first horse to run for trainer Stephen Gray’s novel idea of syndication in Singapore, the brainchild of his racing manager, former Singapore Turf Club racing presenter Gareth Pepper.
The well-named Easy Does It is also the first progeny of Singapore’s former two-time Horse of the Year Super Easy to win at his now New Zealand-based sire’s former stomping ground. The Hideyuki Takaoka-trained Top Banana is the other Super Easy going around at Kranji and has yet to win in three runs.
Syndication, the popular concept that gives a wide cross-section of people from all walks of life the opportunity to own a racehorse is not new at Kranji, but Gray said it was the first such public syndication he has undertaken at his stables.
“I’ve had groups of owners buying a horse, but this is the first public syndication I’ve had at my stables,” said the Kiwi handler who has trained in Singapore since 2000.
“These are totally new people to racing, except for Mr Hong (Ying Kwee), Super Easy’s former owner.
“He’s had a bit of bad luck in racing lately and I asked him to join this and have a bit of fun.”
Gray again called upon his main bloodstock agent, Garry Carvell, to help him find that first buy for the new outfit made up of five new owners, mostly New Zealanders, and Mr Hong.
“Garry picked him out at the two-year-old sale in New Zealand. Gareth Pepper is the one who looks after these new owners and he went to the sales to buy this horse, too,” said Gray.
“This horse was quite impressive at his barrier trials (won one in New Zealand and one at Kranji). He had to be good to win today, especially from the other horse (Ateej) who has more experience than him.”
After sitting outside race-leader My Gold (Shafiq Rizuan) from the start, Easy Does It (Alan Munro) went for broke at the top of the straight as he hit the front. Showing great balance for a first-timer, Easy Does It ($21) quickened kindly under Munro’s urgings, but at the 100m, it looked like he would be hard-pushed to counter the fast-finishing Ateej (Oscar Chavez).
But either Ateej peaked on his run, or Easy Does It somehow found an extra length when the $12 favourite came upsides, but he was able to last with a neck to spare. Zac Kasa (Manoel Nunes) had every chance while tucked away in the box-seat, settling for third place another 1 ¾ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 10.47secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
Pepper said he was grateful to Carvell for his help and guidance while hunting for that first racehorse.
“These are fantastic people who have been very patient. Five of six of them are owners for the first time,” said the South African.
“I’d like to really thank Garry Carvell for his help when I was in New Zealand with him. He helped me mainly with the pedigree.
“I must also thank Stephen for all the opportunities he has afforded me over the last 12 months.”
