Fairway's Turf Online

Laxon clinches seventh title with last runner

SINGAPORE: Dec 16, 2012

SPEEDY AHEAD wins the final race to give trainer Laurie Laxon
his seventh premiership - SNTC photo

In a dramatic finish to the 2012 racing season in Singapore, Laurie Laxon clinched the trainer's premiership with his last runner in the final race here today.

Winner of six consecutive titles from 2004, the kiwi endured a roller-coaster afternoon. He had chance to seal the premiership in Race 3 when DOUBLE STAR, an impressive first-up winner back in August, was installed odds-on favourite in the Class 4, Div 2 - 1100m sprint but the four-year-old was beaten by half a length by HANG TUAH.

Michael Freedman, who trailed Laxon by just one winner at the start of the day, then won back-to-back races with MONTE CRISTO and CAVALLO.

Laxon then went agonizingly close again in the Open Handicap when DUJARDIN was beaten a short head by the top-ranked FLYING FULTON.

Going into the final, Laxon and Freedman had one runner each. SPEEDY AHEAD, who had not race since June, started a firm favourite and romped home by three-and-three-quarter lengths to give Laxon his seven championship in Singapore.

"In my 13 years spent here, I’ve never seen a premiership go so close," said Laxon. "It’s been hard work this year as we don’t really have any stars in our stable. We even had seven empty boxes all year.

"It’s only in the last weeks, seeing how it was so close that I decided to give it a go."

Laxon and Freedman finished the season level on 76 winners but the former had more second-place finishes, 73 to 53.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
6	BEAT TO QUARTERS	D Hill	B Vorster	1
	(General Neduym - Swell Time Girl by Niccolo Polo)
3	Pint Sized Prince	M Freedman	T See	2
2	Monferrato	S Gray	W X Wong	3
1	His My Idol	H K Tan	Y F Leong	4

2	INITIATION - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
10	FAST FAST BOY	O'Hara	Soo	1
	(Danroad - Ciampino by Woodman)
5	Visionary	M Clements	D Beasley	2
1	Fiscal Wings	M Walker	R Shafiq	3
2	Moova Bullet	S Lam	T See	4

3	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
9	HANG TUAH	H K Tan	T See	1
	(Indian Ocean - Trouble In Excess by Excess)
5	Double Star	L Laxon	D Beasley	2
11	Dynamic Venture	S Yeoh	Zaki	3
12	Sarong	O'Hara	Suhaimi	4

4	CLASS 4 - 1800M (POLYTRACK)
10	KOBE TOP GUN	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(Tap Dance City - Oak Alydar by Alydar)
12	Street Legal	B Marsh	Z Zuriman	2
11	Ktronic	S Chua	D Bonilla	3
5	Darien Gap	S Burridge	D Beasley	4

5	CLASS 5 - 1900M (POLYTRACK)
4	GIVE ME STRENGTH	P Shaw	B Vorster	1
	(Bradbury's Luck - Japari by Deputy Governor)
3	Arabian Night	B Marsh	Z Zuriman	2
12	American Tycoon	S Chua	H K Cheng	3
6	Roman Knight	H K Tan	G Cheyne	4

6	CLASS 3 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
8	DEVIL'S CUT	S Burridge	B Vorster	1
	(Exceed And Excel - Adorara by Silver Hawk)
4	Californian Girl	B Marsh	D Beasley	2
1	Terminator	S Baertschiger	J Powell	3
5	Bombaata	Z L Mok	G Cheyne	4

7	CLASS 5 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
2	MONTE CRISTO	M Freedman	T See	1
	(Viscount - Rum Cruise by Canny Lad)
9	Equience	B Dean	K A'Isisuhairi	2
12	Eighth Avenue	S Chua	S Alif	3
3	Faithful Warrior	H K Tan	W X Wong	4

8	GRADUATION - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
4	CAVALLO	M Freedman	D Beasley	1
	(Testa Rossa - Indovina by Elusive Quality)
8	Pioneer Seven	Z L Mok	Chavez	2
5	Machfive	M Freedman	B Vorster	3
3	Jeram Clipper	C Brown	Sivan	4

9	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1	RAPID REWARDS	L Dragon	S Alif	1
	(Captain Rio -Regal Ash by Green Desert)
7	Yam Cha	Z L Mok	R Lim	2
10	Coffee Kid	H W Tan	D Beasley	3
6	Wolfsbane	O'Hara	Suhaimi	4

10	OPEN - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
1	FLYING FULTON	M Walker	R Shafiq	1
	(Flying Spur - Fulton by Zabeel)
8	Dujardin	L Laxon	Woodworth	2
3	Nandowra	M Freedman	D Beasley	3
5	Maurice Utrillo	P Shaw	B Vorster	4

11	BENCHMARK 89 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
3	EMERALD HILL	O'Hara	Saifudin	1
	(Sharp Humor - You Glitter Girl by Glitterman)
6	Masthead	M Freedman	J Powell	2
7	Bahen	S Baertschiger	B Vorster	3
2	Birthday Gift	Khoo	M Firdaus	4

12	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
5	SPEEDY AHEAD	L Laxon	D Beasley	1
	(Hossunet - Memoir - Danehill)
3	Our Friendly Diva	S Baertschiger	R Hasri	2
8	Not Simple	Z L Mok	T Rehaizat	3
6	Angry Cat	H W Tan	Chavez	4