Fairway's Turf Online

Race Ahead bags Queen Elizabeth II Cup

SINGAPORE, April 23, 2010

RACE AHEAD (on rails) holds off GOLDSCHATZ to win the
Queen Elizabeth II Cup - SNTC photo

RACE AHEAD pulled up so well after winning over 1700m last week that trainer Brush Marsh decided to back him up for the S$350,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kranji here tonight.

The decision hit paydirt one as the four-year-old New Zealand gelding carved out a narrow win over the favourite GOLDSCHATZ in the Singapore Group 2 event.

After picking up four wins in 13 starts last year, RACE AHEAD (Al Akbar - Mertie Love by Spectacular Love) has resumed this season with four wins out of four starts. The Queen Elizabeth II Cup was also his first big test against the 'big boys'.

RACE AHEAD, ridden by Olivier Placais, sat just behind the pace and after taking the lead in the home stretch, had to dig deep when challenged by GOLDSCHATZ before winning by a head.

RACE AHEAD will now be given a let-up before coming back for the Four-Year-Old series which culminates with the Derby in July.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1	888 TROPHY, CLASS 5 - 1400M
9	Lucky Banker	D Hill	S Cormack	1
12	Positive Jaws	S Gray	V Duric	2
11	Salvagente	B Marsh	R Fradd	3
10	Music Star	H K Tan	M Ewe	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M
1	Rising Expectation	B Dean	Soo	1
8	Pasha Khan	Baertschiger	J Powell	2
5	Cigar Million	H K Tan	J See	3
9	Victory Ahead	T Kieser	O Placais	4

3	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M
5	Montego Bay	S Gray	V Duric	1
12	Astra Torres	H Takaoka	Zaki	2
11	Gidda Boy	B Dean	Chavez	3
6	Arjuna	O'Hara	Saifudin	4

4	FPA FINANCIAL PROSPERITY TROPHY
	INITIATION - 1600M
6	Surgess	S Burridge	Stewart	1
5	Wing Warrior	Khoo	J Moreira	2
4	Sweet Dream	B Marsh	R Fradd	3
8	Robert E	Baertschiger	B Vorster	4

5	CHESTERTON SUNTEC CHARITY TROPHY
	CLASS 4 - 2000M
10	Cristoforo	S Burridge	R Stewart	1
6	Famous Than U	Z L Mok	A Feiruz	2
4	Naraeti	L Laxon	Saimee	3
2	Going On Here	P Shaw	B Vorster	4

6	BENCHMARK 89 - 1200M
3	Happy Everybody	S Burridge	M Ewe	1
1	Dr Lemon	P Shaw	B Vorster	2
5	Big Choice	L Laxon	R Stewart	3
7	Pacino	L Laxon	Saimee	4

7	QUEEN ELIZABETH II CUP - 2000M
7	Race Ahead	B Marsh	O Placais	1
2	Goldschatz	S Gray	V Duric	2
14	Ravages	C Brown	Chavez	3
4	Drovetti	S Burridge	S Cormack	4

8	NTAN CORPORATE ADVISORY CHARITY TROPHY
	THREE-YEAR-OLD HANDICAP - 1200M
6	Torpedo	J Meagher	Soo	1
2	Just A Man	Baertschiger	J Powell	2
1	My Son	P Shaw	T R Barnabas	3
4	Williams	L Laxon	Saimee	4

9	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M
8	Shaolin Soldier	S Burridge	J Moreira	1
9	Saddle The Wind	S Gray	I Andy	2
2	Model Citizen	B Dean	Saimee	3
10	Wicket	M Clements	O Placais	4