3 minute read
Galvarino’s race on Friday night was always going to be a nerve-wracking experience. Which side of him will show up.
But the cheeky galloper finally gave his connections something to cheer about when he brought his Mr Hyde side and left Dr Jekyll at home when he went straight as a die - and as a bonus, scored his first win, too.
After his cracking second to Lim’s Lightning in the Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) last July, many thought it would be onwards and upwards for the son of Stryker, but he elected for outwards instead.
Deciding he was more a tourist than a racehorse, Galvarino took hold of regular partner Troy See by hanging out badly to the outside fence. Though the race was over for the favourite, he still made some ground late to run seventh.
The white card was raised with seven barrier practices ordered as “detention classes” for the naughty kid.
The mixed results had trainer Alwin Tan and handlers at their wit’s end. One day, he would toe the line and the next day it was back to square one – he was back on the road less travelled again.
But Tan’s and the IB Racing Stable’s patience was richly rewarded in Friday’s $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m after their moody charge shot out of his barrier No 6 to land niftily onto the fence before dropping out to third when Hugo (Daniel Moor) and favourite Golden Years (Vlad Duric) whipped around him to vie for the lead.
Galvarino ($15) was looking good in the box-seat, but you could imagine the lump in Tan’s throat did not quite go away for as long as that time bomb in the horse’s head does not go off until the line.
Like a real pro, Galvarino obeyed See on cue when asked to ease to the outside upon straightening to give chase to the fighting duo of Golden Years and Hugo. Those tense muscles in the Galvarino camp could finally relax when the Australian-bred well full bore ahead at the 300m before fending off a stinging challenge from newcomer Lim’s Craft (Ben Thompson) to prevail by a head.
Golden Years was able to hold on to his third place another 1 ¾ lengths away while Hugo faded late to finish fourth another length away. The winning time was 1min 9.92secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
It was relief all round at the winner’s circle.
“My heart was pumping hard. I just kept my fingers crossed he doesn’t hang out,” said Tan.
“I was still worried even after he went straight, as it was his first time back after a long time (five months). But he was very good tonight.
“We’ve spent a lot of time with him at the barriers, trying to correct him, making sure he jumps sharp and straight.
“At the end of the day, it’s probably just animal behaviour. I think he also has a soft mouth and he doesn’t like people to control him too much.”
See certainly did a sterling job not to interfere with Galvarino too much on Friday night, and more importantly, extract his best qualities to pop that winning account open.
“When we jumped, I was just saying to myself: ‘Please, please, please, go straight’,” said the Singaporean rider.
“I have to say I was not very confident, I was very nervous, but he flew the gates very good and landed in a good spot.
“It’s only when Vlad’s horse came up that he got a bit keen. He doesn’t like to have horses around him.
“I just let him find his own stride, and in the straight, he just started to come along. It was a good run by the second horse (Lim’s Craft), too.
“That’s the first step out of the way with this horse. Now for the next step.”
Tan has not quite mapped out a definite path for Galvarino, even if the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge that kicks off with the Group 3 JBBA Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on April 5, does have some appeal.
“The 3YO series would be nice, but he has missed a lot of runs because of his barrier tests,” said Tan.
“He’s had a lot of barrier trials, but a horse like Lim’s Lightning has had a lot more race practice. But hopefully, he has corrected this problem now and we can plan his runs towards the series.”
