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Outsider Silver Joy handed Kiwi trainer Bruce Marsh his 400th winner in Singapore after he won the $85,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1600m on Sunday.
The affable former jockey was all smiles as he headed down to the winner’s circle to toast to the new milestone.
It’s doubtful the celebrations would be as wild as the day he led in his very first Kranji winner, though – an even bigger shock winner - 142-1 shot Hello And Goodbye - and in a much more prestigious race, the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 17, 2005.
A lot of water has since gone under the bridge in the last 14 years, that have not always been all beer and skittles, but the quiet achiever was certainly enjoying another sip of the bubbly - courtesy of a Moet bottle handed to him by fellow trainer Steven Burridge - at the Champagne Room.
“It’s been a marvellous place to train at. There is no travelling and the stakes money has been good,” said Marsh.
Silver Joy might not be in the same league as some of the better horses Marsh has trained – Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge Triple Crown winner Gingerbread Man, second Singapore Derby winner Race Ahead (2010) and two-time Group winner Trudeau come to mind while champion galloper War Affair only joined him in the twilight of his career – but the All American three-year-old might still make into his own personal hall of fame thanks to the landmark win.
Should Marsh forget one day, the name may still jog his memory. Marsh famously won the Melbourne Cup in 1971 on a horse named Silver Knight!
“Silver Joy showed some promise, but things have gone wrong. Everything went right today,” he said.
“He got the trip today and there is no reason why he can’t go further.”
Winning jockey Koh Teck Huat does not ride all that often for Marsh, but he still saluted his undeniable horseman skills post-race.
“The horse was travelling quite keen, but in the straight, he ran on very well,” said the Singaporean jockey who was once indentured to another Kiwi, nine-time Singapore champion trainer Laurie Laxon.
“I was just lucky to be the rider. Bruce has done a good job with the horse, he’s a very good trainer and also gives good advice.
“I’d like to thank him and the owner (TTS No 2 Stable) for giving me this ride.”
A three-year-old by All American, Silver Joy was bringing up Koh’s fifth winner for the season while it was lucky 13 for Marsh, who may not have enjoyed his best season this year, but is certainly ending with a flourish in the last quarter.
After one of the more testing starts he has had to his season, Marsh had only seven winners to show for at the two-third mark in August, but a purple patch of sorts that began with Blitz Power in September has since seen his score almost double in the space of three months.
