Fairway's Turf Online

Better Than Ever cracks Mile record

SINGAPORE: Mar 13, 2011

BETTER THAN EVER storms home on the outside of PARFUMIER
- SNTC photo

Singapore champion BETTER THAN EVER heads for Dubai in the best ever possible form when he captured the Polytrack Mile Championship in course record time at Kranji here today.

Having his first race on the alternative track, the four-year-old overcame an untidy start and a spirited challenge from PAFRUMIER to win by half a length.

BETTER THAN EVER (French Deputy - Songfest by Unbridled's Song) cover the distance in 1min 37.69secs, shaving 0.55 second off the previous record set by ABDICATE in 2009.

"Well, he sure gave us a bit of a fright, especially at the start. We’ll need to take a look at that," said trainer Laurie Laxon. "But never mind, he got home. It was still a game win."

BETTER THAN EVER has now won 14 of his 15 starts, the only blemish to his record came in the Singapore Gold Cup, a handicap event over 2200m last November, when he was asked to shoulder a punishing 60kg.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1	MAIDEN - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
7	Qui Est La	B Dean	S John	1
4	Triple Eagle	M Freedman	R Shafiq	2
2	Cigar Supreme	Khoo	J Powell	3
8	Pole Pole	H W Tan	Saifudin	4

2	INITIATION - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
6	Macau	M Walker	R Shafiq	1
9	Danzig Rocket	K C Yeoh	N Cunha	2
10	Our Friendly Diva	Baertschiger	J Powell	3
5	Sandra	L Laxon	Saimee	4

3	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4	Lockdown	P Shaw	R Fradd	1
1	Lucky Wish	D Hill	M Firdaus	2
8	Distinct Niche	L Laxon	O Placais	3
7	Drunken Speed	Khoo	Saifudin	4

4	CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
10	Lucky Thirteen	K C Yeoh	S John	1
6	Chan's Electra	D Kok	J Powell	2
4	Zac Heaven	M Freedman	R Shafiq	3
9	Mr Prosperity Kat	H Takaoka	Zaki	4

5	PROGRESS - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
6	Rapido Star	D Dragon	Saifudin	1
3	Corsage	M Walker	R Shafiq	2
4	Sir Excellence	S Burridge	Kellady	3
2	Reel Schmick	S Burridge	M Firdaus	4

6	CLASS 5 - 1900M (POLYTRACK)
6	Sweet Dream	B Marsh	O Placais	1
5	Hi Jack	L Laxon	S Noh	2
1	King Of Sheba	C Brown	J Powell	3
7	All Drama	S Gray	Saimee	4

7	BENCHMARK 83 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5	Apache Crown	S Burridge	Kellady	1
4	Ten Ten Lai	K C Yeoh	N Cunha	2
7	Simply The Best	D Koh	Saimee	3
10	Art Of Speed	Khoo	Saifudin.;	4

8	CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
7	Special Account	B Dean	Aslam	1
1	Zinly	Khoo	M Firdaus	2
9	Tic Toc	S Chua	Zaki	3
3	Buzet	M Walker	R Shafiq	4

9	KRANJI STAKES C - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
3	Raleigh	M Walker	R Shafiq	1
1	Lago Bay	Baertschiger	J Powell	2
5	Pacino	L Laxon	Saimee	3
6	Shaolin Soldier	S Burridge	S John	4

10	POLYTRACK MILE CHAMPIONSHIP
	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
1	Better Than Ever	L Laxon	Saimee	1
5	Parfumier	M Freedman	O Placais	2
4	Jamal Malik	P Shaw	R Fradd	3
2	Waikato	L Laxon	J Powell	4

11	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
8	Uno	H W Tan	Soo	1
7	Seize The Day	D Kok	Saimee	2
1	Best Bid	D Dragon	N Cunha	3
2	My Friend Jo	Baertschiger	J Powell	4