Chevron!
RACE 9: RAFFLES CUP GROUP 1 (3+YO) (WEIGHT FOR AGE) - 1800M COURSE A (LC) (TURF TRACK) TIME: 17:25 PRIZE MONEY: S$500000
TRACK:GOOD WIN TIME:1.48.0
2 CHEVRON 519 J SAIMEE C LECK 4 1 1 0
12 THE HORNET 451 M CAHILL D DRAGON 6 5 2 1.30
1 TOP SPIN 524 N CALLOW L LAXON 3 4 3 1.40
4 LIM'S FIGHTER 518 O CHAVEZ J MEAGHER 7 9 4 4.40
3 RECAST 448 R WOODWORTH L LAXON 5 6 5 4.90
11 STEDMAN 491 J POWELL M FREEDMAN 1 2 6 5.20
10 BIG VALOUR 504 B VORSTER P SHAW 12 10 7 6.50
6 MR LINE 497 J FORD P SHAW 8 7 8 6.80
7 ITMAYBEYOU 529 M GALLAGHER B DEAN 2 3 9 7.10
9 EL DORADO 494 R STEWART H TAKAOKA 11 12 10 7.30
5 TRIGGER EXPRESS 534 D BEASLEY S BURRIDGE 9 11 11 8.30
8 KING AND KING 500 KB SOO D KOH 10 8 12 10.10
Horse No Horse Name Win Dividend Place Dividend
1st 2 CHEVRON $40.00 $10.00
2nd 12 THE HORNET $6.00
3rd 1 TOP SPIN $9.00
4th 4 LIM'S FIGHTER
Evens and Odds EVEN $21.00
Forecast 2-12 $39.00
Place Forecast 1-12 $3.00
1-2 $6.00
2-12 $10.00
Tierce 2-12-1 $134.00
Trio 1-2-12 $13.00
Quartet 2-12-1-4 $2,046.00
Replay...
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Chevron salutes in Raffles Cup 09 Nov 2008
Craig Brennan
Consistent performer Chevron claimed his first Group 1 success when he took out the $500,000 Raffles Cup over 1800m on Sunday.
And the success broke a Group 1 winning drought for the Charles Leck – Saimee Jumaat combination who hadn’t been successful at the highest level since Ninetyfive Emperor took the 2005 Lion City Cup.
Ridden behind the speed, Chevron scored by a length-and-a-quarter over The Hornet (Michael Cahill) with Top Spin (Noel Callow) a nose away third.
The time for the 1800m journey was 1:48.0, just 0.7 seconds outside the course record.
Stedman (John Powell) assumed the role of pacemaker with Itmaybeyou (Mark Gallagher) sitting on his outside. Top Spin took the sit behind this duo with Saimee aboard Chevron on his outside. Recast (Benny Woodworth) and The Hornet were next in line.
An even tempo ensured to the long run home on the outer track where there was little change in the order.
Soon after straightening Cahill moved up on The Hornet which in turn got Saimee going. The pair quickly took over from the leading pair before Chevron kicked into overdrive, setting up his winning break.
While Saimee and Cahill were making their winning moves, Callow was having trouble getting Top Spin into clear galloping room. With his penchant for laying-in Top Spin eventually did get clear and again found the fence. Although he tried hard he was unable to peg back the winning margin.
With Leck not in attendance, assistant trainer John O’Hara said the plan was to take the sit behind the speed with Chevron.
“He’s settling a lot better in his races now,” said O’Hara. “We wanted to take the sit with him today if something wanted to lead.
“It worked out perfectly for us. We now know that he can come from behind.”
O’Hara said Chevron would have no problem handling the extra ground of the Group 1 $1.35 million Singapore Gold Cup over 2200m in three weeks time.
“He’s bred to get a mile-and-a-half (2400m),” said O’Hara. “The biggest question is ‘how he will be handicapped’?”
Saimee was aboard Chevron when the gelding got out with a big lead in the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup over 2000m in May before compounding in the straight.
He said the gelding was now a lot more settled in his races.
“The pace was nice today and he settled really well,” said Saimee. “I decided to get moving early on him as I didn’t want to get into a sprint with the others.
“He’s a pretty good stayer and he’s certainly getting better with a bit of age on his side.”
Saimee is in a bit of a dilemma. While delighted with Chevron’s success, the leading jockey is also the rider of the Leck-trained Protege who could prove a lightweight chance.
“It’s going to be a tough choice, but first of all we have to see whether Protege can get into the field,” said Saimee.
Runner-up The Hornet ran his usual honest race but found Chevron too good on the day.
“He had a lovely run on the fence. I took him around Top Spin and he ran on very bravely,” said Cahill. “He is definitely a horse with huge potential and I reckon he will be a lot better next year.”
While disappointed with the defeat of Top Spin, Noel Callow said the run will bring the gelding to his peak for the Gold Cup.
“We had a lovely run on the inside of Itmaybeyou and Stedman but on the day the other pair were too good for us,” said Callow.
“The better track probably suited them a bit better than my bloke, but he’s pulled-up fine from the run and that’s the important part.”
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