Skip to main content
Home The New Paper
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team

Popular

  • COURT & CRIME
  • Food & Drink
Racing

Excelling upsets Bold Thruster

Excelling upsets Bold Thruster
Jockey A'Isisuhairi Kasim driving Excelling to fend off the favourite Bold Thruster (No. 1) and Surpass Natural (centre) in yesterday's $250,000 Group 2 Merlion Trophy in Race 12 at Kranji. TNP PHOTO: SALWA SUANDI
Excelling upsets Bold Thruster
The Cliff Brown-trained grey Moon Face sprinting away to win first-up by 11/2 lengths in Race 3. It was jockey Ruan Maia's third of seven winners yesterday. TNP PHOTO: SALWA SUANDI
Excelling upsets Bold Thruster
Maia driving Elite Power (No. 2) to beat Nowyousee (inside) by a nose for his sixth winner. Another nose away was Muraahib (in yellow), with a short head to Pennywise TNP PHOTO: SALWA SUANDI

Lee Freedman-trained $130 outsider fends off the $9 favourite in $250,000 Group 2 Merlion Trophy

Tan Thean Loon
Racing Editor
Aug 24, 2020 06:00 am
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • 0 Engagements

Excelling, a $130 outsider, played giant slayer in the $250,000 Group 2 Merlion Trophy in Race 12 at Kranji yesterday, defeating the $9 favourite Bold Thruster by half a length.

It was the second time in a week that Lady Luck deserted trainer Michael Clements in a feature race. Just a week earlier, his star duo - Top Knight and the $11 favourite Countofmontecristo - finished second and third respectively to the Shane Baertschiger-trained Aramaayo in the $1 million Group 1 Kranji Mile.

Excelling, one of the four three-figure outsiders in the field of nine Merlion Trophy contenders, was ridden to perfection by jockey A'Isisuhairi Kasim, who has forged a strong partnership with the winning trainer.

He and Australian Hall of Famer Lee Freedman have teamed up with a few winners since fate brought them together during the Covid-19 circuit-breaker period.

Freedman's Augustano, another long shot at $142, set a brisk pace yesterday.

He led by nearly a length with a 23.48sec sectional from a tight bunch, namely $23 third favourite Surpass Natural, My Dreamliner ($271), Zac Kasa ($69) and Bold Thruster, who was trapped wide after exiting the widest barrier.

Be Bee’s back in business
Racing

Be Bee's back in business

Apr 15, 2021

Related Stories

Elliot Ness can be third-time lucky

Tuesday's Kranji barrier trial results

Yesterday's gallops by horses engaged at Kranji on Sunday

Excelling was right behind on the rails, covered by River Radiance ($98). Skywalk, the $21 second favourite, and $191 outsider Be Bee were last.

Jockey Louis-Philippe Beuzelin niggled Bold Thruster to get closer to the leader but straightened wide.

Surpass Natural also made his bid. A'Isisuhairi already had Excelling up behind the leaders' backs. He went through a nice gap at the 300m mark and pinched a nice lead.

Bold Thruster and Surpass Natural lunged at him late, but the bird had flown. Excelling won by half a length for his fifth success from 10 Kranji starts.

Bold Thruster headed out Surpass Natural for second placing.

The fast pace enabled Excelling to clock 1min 10.21sec, a new class record, for the Polytrack 1,200m.

The Merlion Trophy is the second feature after the Kranji Mile to be run behind closed doors because of the Covid-19 situation.

A'Isisuhairi said by telephone after the race that Freedman was happy with Excelling's condition and instructed him not to be upfront.

"He wanted me to sit comfortably, get him to travel and relax for the run home, which he did," said the Malaysian rider.

"He was travelling nice and strong, just behind the leaders and I thought the tempo was quite okay.

"The way he travelled I was quite confident in the run. I was just hoping that he would get a clear run in the home turn. I knew he could finish the race.

"At the last 200m, he kicked and held his position. I thought Bold Thruster was hard to beat, but everything worked out today. It is meant to be ours and I'm really happy about that."

A'Isisuhairi is thankful for Freedman's strong support.

"We are having a good relationship. We both have got some winners and I always believed I was going to ride a Group winner for Mr Freedman one day, and it happened today," he said.

"It happened very quickly, so things are going all right and I'm looking forward to ride more winners for him and the stable and, hopefully, we kick home the big one, one day."

Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now

HORSE RACING

Tan Thean Loon

Racing Editor
loon@sph.com.sg
Read articles by Tan Thean Loon
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • E-mail this article
  • Newslink -  Purchase this article for republication

Top Stories this Month

Naiise closes last store at Jewel, may wind up operations
Singapore

Naiise shutters last store at Jewel, may cease operations

Apr 12, 2021
HDB resale prices up for 9 months in a row, could pass all-time high
Singapore

HDB resale prices up for 9 months in a row, could pass all-time high

Apr 09, 2021
Gas blast during hotpot meal costs woman her new job
Singapore

Gas blast during hotpot meal cost woman her new job

Apr 05, 2021
Home
  • Contests
  • Coupon
  • Team
  • Home
  • News
    • Singapore
    • World
    • Business
    • Views
    • Backstage
    • Others
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Singapore Football
    • Team Singapore
    • School Sports
    • Athletics
    • Basketball
    • Cricket
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Racing
    • Others
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Star Style
    • School of Frock
  • Lifestyle
    • Makan
    • Hed Chef
    • Weets Eats
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
    • Biker Boy
    • Celeb Chow
    • Others
  • Racing
  • Your Tip-Offs
  • Read E-Paper
  • Contact TNP
  • About SPH
  • Privacy Statement
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Member Terms & Conditions
  • Website Terms & Conditions
SPH Digital News Copyright © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Regn No. 198402868E