By Michael Lee, Singapore Turf Club
Odds-on favourite Attila quickly put behind the disappointment of a delayed racing debut from the tailend of last year with a flying start at the Singapore season opener six weeks later.
Trainer Shane Baertschiger had the Showcasing four-year-old primed and ready for his baptism of fire in a Novice race on Singapore Gold Cup day last November, but his waywardness got the better of him on the way to the starting gates when he stumbled and fell, and was subsequently scratched.
Jockey Manoel Nunes was unhurt, but the horse didn’t come out totally unscathed from the blunder, but luckily, the lacerations only necessitated a short healing time.
Baertschiger had to start all over again, but Attila progressed quickly, and more importantly, didn’t show any signs of having lost an iota of his early promise on the training tracks, highlighted by his winning barrier trial on December 23.
Punters unsurprisingly warmed up to his chances in Sunday’s $20,000 Open Maiden race over 1200m on Polytrack when they sent him out as the outright $7 favourite.
The omens looked good for those who took the shorts when Attila bounced out smartly to go and eye-ball Burgundy Lad (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) before swerving for home, still on the bridle.
As jockey Matthew Kellady asked him to lengthen up under hands-and-heels riding, the gap started to widen, but any hasty conclusion he was home and hosed was momentarily checked when second pick Holy Eleanor (Zyrul Nor Azman) came eating into the margin, but it barely rattled the hotpot in the end.
Baertschiger’s newcomer, whom the Australian handler shares with a Singaporean owner under the Flak Jacket Stable, fell in by three-quarter length from Holy Eleanor, who has stretched her maiden status with yet another bridesmaid tag, her fifth in eight starts.
Sugar Rush (Mark Ewe) ran third another 2 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 13.26secs for the Polytrack 1200m.
“On Gold Cup day, he was supposed to have his first run in a Novice race, but fell and dumped Manoel on the way to the barriers,” said Baertschiger.
“He had cuts under the arms, shoulders and hips. I had to back him off.
“He’s come back good and improved a lot. I gave him only one trial leading up to today.
“The way the track was riding today, he probably felt the ground towards the end, and got a bit tired. He’ll be better for the run.”
Baertschiger didn’t fail to salute the New Zealand bloodstock agents behind Attila’s purchase.
“I bought him from Bruce and Maureen Harvey (Ascot Farm), whose son Glen was assistant-trainer to Tan Kah Soon a couple of years ago,” he said.
“In the past I bought Be Bee from the Ready-To-Run, and Mr Showman off Bruce and Maureen as well. I got this one (Attila) after he won two trials in New Zealand.
“There is a Novice race over 1200m in two weeks, and that’s where he is going provided he pulls up well.”
