Hello, Daniel

He went into the race undefeated on the Polytrack but unknown over the distance. Yet, DANIEL raced away to a smashing win in the final Group feature on the final day of the 2016 Singapore racing season yesterday.

The key was the Laurie Laxon-trained and Oscar Racing Stable-owned six-year-old grey secured a soft lead in the $175,000 Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes over 1,700m and he left his rivals literally standing rooted when he stole a big breakaway in the straight.

The Patrick Shaw-trained New Year Cup winner Perfect P gave chase but was beaten by two-and-a-half lengths.

"Today, he got on a surface which he really liked and you could see what he can do. He beat a pretty good field and beat them easy," said Daniel's jockey, Glen Boss.

It was the winner's eighth victory from 28 starts and first beyond 1,600m. Interestingly, his first two wins - both on the Polytrack - were in his first two starts in 2013.

Although trainer Alwin Tan failed to take the Colonial Chief Stakes with Infantry, who finished third, he wrapped up his first championship title with 90 winners, his final winner coming from Nova Missile in Race 6.