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An early move midrace saw longshot Crown Gift career away to a shock win in the $80,000 Kranji Stakes C race over 1600m on Sunday.
Unsighted at his last start in an identical race, the Phenomenons four-year-old was clearly in a winning mood this time around, aided in no small measure by a cheeky ride from leading apprentice jockey Troy See.
In a handy spot after jumping from the inside alley, Crown Gift ($231) took the bull by the horns at the half-mile when Star Empire (Daniel Moor) and stablemate Justice Light (Mark Ewe) slowed up the tempo upfront, speeding to the front in a flash – never to be caught again.
The well-backed Key Success (Vlad Duric) tried to stay in his slipstream, but the $18 favourite was clutching at straws. Crown Gift kept getting further and further with See even taking the luxury of standing up in the irons long before hitting the line – a carbon-copy image of the last time they won with the same contempt three starts back.
The winning margin was three lengths with Sacred Sea (Ryan Curatolo), who was on the quick back-up after last Friday’s win, steaming home late for second place. Key Success stayed one-paced late to finish third another short head away. The winning time was 1min 38.95secs for the Polytrack mile.
“He’s a progressive type. I was actually confident he would run well today, but I didn’t expect him to win in that kind of style,” said winning trainer Young Keah Yong.
“Forget his last run when he had a few factors against him. Looking at the way he won today, I’ll probably look for another mile race, but on turf.
“Troy seems to get on well with him.”
With that 25th win, the Singaporean rider extends his lead in the apprentice jockey’s ladder, five wins clear of two-time champion Wong Chin Chuen.
See said he, however, did not expect Crown Gift would be the one supplying him with that additional buffer to his lead.
“I really didn’t expect this one, but it’s most welcomed as I’ve had three seconds in a row today (Land Below D Wind, Classified and Paperback Trooper),” said See.
“I just came back from a two-week suspension and it’s been tough keeping the weight down. It’s always good to return a winner after a suspension.”
Owned by Young himself, Crown Gift has now amassed around $180,000 in prizemoney from his three wins and six placings in 13 outings.
