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After coming close on a few occasions, emerging outfit Yu Long Stable was finally able to savour its first Singapore success on Friday night.
The Chinese owner is no newbie to racing as their green and white checked colours have captured many races around the world in countries like Ireland and Australia, but Kranji has proven to be an elusive target thus far.
Yu Long Emperor was their first racehorse to race in Singapore as far back as October 2016, but had yet to salute in 15 starts for trainer Desmond Koh. To be fair, the Irish-bred five-year-old by Holy Roman Emperor has come within a whisker of breaking the duck three times.
Others like Yu Long Glorious, Yulong Fast Steed or Yulong Honor – all spread with different trainers - have since been rolled out, but still without much success until Yulong Xiong Hu stepped up to the plate in the $60,000 Class 4 Premier race over 1400m.
The former Victorian two-time winner (Swan Hill, 1600m and Geelong, 1755m) was trained by Darren Weir, and it would seem the Melbourne champion trainer’s winning touch had not left the Sebring four-year-old at his new digs.
Ridden at the rear by Michael Rodd, Yulong Xiong Hu ($59) only started to warm up from the 600m while last-start all-the-way winner Nova Classic (Mohd Zaki) was trying to repeat the same feat upfront.
But up against better horses, Nova Classic was left a sitting duck at the top of the straight when Super Tycoon (Barend Vorster) easily swept past him. Favourite Red Claw (Ryan Curatolo) was stuck in behind and when he tried to go for a narrow gap on the rails, was crowded as Nova Classic rolled back in. The incident also caused Red Claw’s stablemate Mikcaipho (Nooresh Juglall) to take a bad check behind.
Out in the clear down the middle, Yulong Xiong Hu had on the other hand stayed away from trouble, even if he also had to deftly navigate his way off the inside of Taichi Belt (Vlad Duric) at the 300m.
Super Tycoon looked all poised to collect his second win but Rodd drove Yulong Xiong Hu right on the line to finish in advance of Super Tycoon by a neck. Nepean (John Powell) showed vast improvement from his debut last to finish third another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 22.44secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
“I met the Yulong owner in China and he said he would be happy to support me with a horse and this is his first. I’m glad I gave him his first winner in Singapore,” said Khoo.
“Based on his overseas form, I think he will be even better over 2000m. His form was not too bad and Michael rode him very well.”
Rodd, who just returned from his one-day visit to Dubai to ride Gilt Complex (ninth) in a 2000m race on Thursday, praised Khoo for the good job done on one of the “Weiry’s”
“We don’t get many of the Weiry’s here, and Leslie has done a good job on this one,” said the Australian jockey.
“I spoke to Ryan Curatolo about this horse as he rode him and he gave me a good rap on him.
“The pace was on early and when they stepped up round the home turn, he had a nice run though. I think he’s a horse who can go up to Class 3 and win over 2000m.”
Rodd said he was not disappointed with Gilt Complex’s Dubai effort as the Cliff Brown-trained stayer is probably looking for more ground.
“The race did not pan out our way, they went mad in front. At the 1000m, I put him in the sin bin, and pulled him out,” he said.
“These horses are very good and it was hard for him to catch up. He really started to run on at the 600m, but they were off and gone.
“He went through the line very well in the last 100m and as he pulled up he still had something left.
“I reckon the Dubai Gold Cup over 3200m is the only chance for him. I would love to ride him over 3200m, and if he wins, it would be another feather to his cap, to Cliff’s cap and to my cap.”
The Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) is one of the nine races run on Dubai World Cup night on March 31. Gilt Complex is nominated for that race.
