Fairway's Turf Online

Nice break for Moreira after several placings

SINGAPORE: Jan 25, 2013

NATURAL NICE (on the outside) prevails in a thrilling finish
- SNTC photo

After finding one to beat thrice and placed third in another race, Joao Moreira finally picked up a double towards the tail-end of the evening at Kranji here tonight.

The change of fortune came in the Class 3 - 1200m sprint when Moreira had to work overtime on NATURAL NICE, trained by Laurie Laxon, before prevailing by a neck in a blanket finish in which just over three lengths separated the first nine runners at the post. It was the gelding's fourth win in 18 starts.

Moreira won the 2012 premiership with a new record 206 winners while Laxon regained the trainer's title with the barest margin, winning on a count back after he and Michael Freedman finished level with 76 winners apiece.

Both picked up their awards the previous night in the 2012 Singapore Racing Awards night.

Moreira then had a much easier time in the next race when his mount SOUL COMMANDER romped home by three lengths for the gelding's first win in 11 outings.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1	BENCHMARK 53, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
3	SUPER JETSET	S Chua	T See	1
	(Lightnin N Thunder - Short Fat Fanny by Appealing Skier)
7	Rory	T Kieser	T Rehaizat	2
6	Prime Mover	S Burridge	J Moreira	3
2	Hilton	M Walker	A Munro	4

2	INITIATION - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	HILLBILLY BEAR	M Walker	R Shafiq	1
	(Thorn Park - Classic Vault by Volksraad)
3	Sam The Man	S Baertschiger	J Powell	2
10	Lightning Ball	L Dragon	M Nunes	3
4	Visionary	M Clements	J Moreira	4

3	BENCHMARK 53 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
3	LUXURIOUS CHOICE	M Freedman	M Nunes	1
	(Encosta De Lago - Ravishing Choice by Redoute's Choice)
8	Takis	P Shaw	J Moreira	2
1	Christmas	S Gray	K A'Isisuhairi	3
13	Ktronic	S Chua	K T Cheng	4

4	INITIATION - 1400M
1	ALL SQUARE	C Brown	J Powell	1
	(Snippetson - Tranquilize by Canadian Silver)
5	Nature Is Nature	S Burridge	J Moreira	2
8	Sacred Crown	M Freedman	M Nunes	3
12	Domenico	P Shaw	B Vorster	4

5	CLASS 4 - 1800M
6	MUSKETEER	H Takaoka	A Munro	1
	(Kurofune - Dance Endless by Dance In The Dark)
5	Cannon Hill	P Shaw	J Powell	2
1	Greenstone	P Shaw	G Cheyne	3
2	Wonder	B Marsh	Z Zuriman	4

6	CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
6	SINGLE STAR	M Yusof	Soo	1
	(Not A Single Doubt - Scarlet Rebel by Zabeel)
2	Spanish Train	D Hill	B Vorster	2
3	Big Money	Khoo	J Moreira	3
5	Savilhro	M Walker	R Shafiq	4

7	CLASS 3 - 1200M
5	NATURAL NICE	L Laxon	J Moreira	1
	(Towkay - Aspects Of Love by Famous Star)
6	Wilkinson	Khoo	T Rehaizat	2
3	Sacred Pins	M Freedman	M Nunes	3
1	Viva Panata	D Koh	J L Li	4

8	BENCHMARK 53, DEIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
6	SOUL COMMANDER	M Walker	J Moreira	1
	(Commands - Bartolomeo by Strategic)
11	Minah Current	S Yeoh	T See	2
9	Duty Free	O'Hara	Sam	3
10	Bulldozer	Z L Mok	Woodworth	4

9	CLASS 4 - 1400M
13	DANNY RICARDO	O'Hara	Soo	1
	(Castledale - Peggoty by Dahar)
6	To Be Remembered	L Laxon	D Beasley	2
15	Warrior	L Laxon	T H Koh	3
11	Sacred Emblem	S Burridge	S King	4