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It may have been a humble $20,000 Class 5 race, but Petite Victoire etched his name in history by becoming the first horse to win a Tuesday night meeting in Singapore.
The new concept was at its inaugural edition, with four more such meetings to follow on April 24, June 19, September 25 and November 20. Races at Kranji used to be staged on Wednesday nights and even on both Saturdays and Sundays in the old days, but have since moved to Friday nights and Sundays in the last 10 years or so.
With Petite Victoire’s (which means small win in French) famous victory, trainer Leticia Dragon and jockey Olivier Placais by the same token join the Dubawi eight-year-old in this slice of history of the 176-year-old Singapore Turf Club.
“It’s nice to be the first trainer to win a Tuesday night race, even if it’s like any other race to me,” said Dragon.
“It’s not the first time I’ve achieved a first. I became the first lady trainer at Kranji in 2011.
“On a smaller note, my dad (Douglas) also gave the great Joao Moreira his first Singapore winner, Ascendant (March 21, 2009), even if I was just the assistant-trainer then.
“Things have begun very well for me this year as Petite Victoire is my third winner. He’s getting on and has lost a bit of his mojo but he’s been quite consistent at his last couple of starts.
“He’s not been able to find the line, like at his last start when he ran a very close second (to Let’s Talk Now), but tonight, he just got there. The line found him really, but it’s good that he won.
“I have to commend Olivier for a great ride. As we all know, he hurt himself in that fall (from Ottawa) on Sunday, but he is a hard worker and still wanted to honour his rides.”
The Frenchman was seen holding his ribs after crossing the line in a blanket finish where Petite Victoire just got the nod by a nose from Bonjour Bob (Nooresh Juglall) with Secondwave (Wong Chin Chuen) third another short head away, but upon dismounting, he gave the assurance he was okay.
“Obviously, I’m not 100 per cent, but I’ll be right. No better proof I am okay than me riding a winner!” said Placais who was stood down after the Sunday fall after complaining of chest pains.
“This horse lost a bit of his heart last year but he’s been coming back to form of late. He should have won at his last start.
“I may have hit the front a bit too early but I had no other choice as the leader (Obstacles Free) was coming back to me.
“I thought Nooresh got me on the line as I had my head down, but I’m glad the photo went in my favour. I’m very happy for the owner as she has been very patient with this horse.”
Petite Victoire ($20) recorded 1min 7.33secs for the 1100m on Polytrack and was bringing up his third win in 42 starts for prizemoney in excess of $80,000 for Madam Li Feng.
