Fairway's Turf Online

Johnny Guitar belts out winning tune

SINGAPORE: Mar 7, 2014

JOHNNY GUITAR races home on the outside to challenge CASH
LUCK in the Polytrack Mile Championship - SNTC photo

JOHNNY GUITAR, who won two Argentine Group 1 events over the "mile", cemented his already awesome reputation when he accounted for some classy opposition to win the S$200,000 Polytrack Mile Championship over 1600m at Kranji here today.

Ridden by Barend Vorster, the four-year-old was parked just behind the pace on the rails before switching out for his run. Last year's Kranji Mile victor CASH LUCK took the lead 250m out and kicked clear but was eventually run down by JOHNNY GUITAR.

Last season's Raffles Cup winner SUPER NINETYSEVEN flashed home late to make it a three-way photo but JOHNNY GUITAR held on to win by a neck.

After finishing third in his debut over 1200m, JOHNNY GUITAR stepped up to win his next start over 1400m which sets him up nicely for today's Group 3 race.

JOHNNY GUITAR won a race and was twice stakes placed at two, then went to win three stakes races at three including the Group 1 G.P. dos Mil Guineas and G.P. Estrellas Mile and was placed four times in group races in Argentina.

Trainer Patrick Shaw has entered the horse for races in Dubai but said the gelding's main goal will be the Four-Year-Old series.

"For him to win a Group race here at only his third start is already an amazing feat, especially as he was up against some very good horses like STEPITUP and SUPER NINETYSEVEN," said Shaw.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
3	POWER AND GLORY	B Dean	R Rueven	1
	(7 b.a.g Elusive Quality - Crowned Glory by Danehill)
10	Volkov	Khoo	YF Leong	2
4	Richeast	O'Hara	I Santana	3
5	Abyss	B Dean	Aslam	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
12	YANGON	H Takaoka	A Munro	1
	(3 b.j.g Bago - Mild Smile by Bubble Gum Fellow)
9	Good News	ZL Mok	R Lim	2
10	Ocean Power	S Burridge	N Berry	3
7	Full Meaning	ZL Mok	Saifudin	4

3	BENCHMARK 67 - 1800M (POLYTRACK)
10	SPRING THUNDER	O'Hara	D Flores	1
	(4 b.am.h Spring At Last - Wassifa by Sure Blade)
5	One Rar	S Baertschiger	R Hasri	2
11	Eisenheim	M Freedman	N Berry	3
9	Yes Baba	P Shaw	CW Brown	4

4	NOVICE - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
8	NARUTO	Khoo	B Vorster	1
	(5 b.nz.g Darci Brahma - Te Akau Secret by Lord Ballina)
3	Black Fiery	T Kieser	Saifudin	2
2	Marseille Roulette	H Takaoka	A Munro	3
1	Galaxy Express	H Takaoka	R Shafiq	4

5	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
11	CASSIS OOLONG	H Takaoka	Zaki	1
	(5 b.j.g King Kamehameha - Atarama by Sadler's Wells)
3	Regal Salute	M Walker	S Noh	2
6	Gypsy Star	HK Tan	Chavez	3
8	Qualitase	S Chua	K A'Isisuhairi	4

6	BENCHMARK 83 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5	FLASH GIFT	O'Hara	D Flores	1
	(5 /br.am.g Lawyer Ron - Weekend Star by Confide)
7	Bale Star	P Shaw	B Vorster	2
8	Coronet Peak	D Hill	A Munro	3
3	Touch Of Gold	HW Tan	Chavez	4

	POLYTRACK MILE CHAMPIONSHIP
7	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
11	JOHNNY GUITAR	P Shaw	B Vorster	1
	(4 br.arg.g Lode - Jolie Caresse by Septieme Ciel)
3	Super Ninetyseven	M Freedman	A Munro	2
5	Cash Luck	D Kok	J Powell	3
1	Stepitup	S Yeoh	I Santana	4

8	CLASS 5 - 1900M (POLYTRACK)
5	NINTH AVENUE	S Chua	S John	1
	(8 b.nz.g Quorum - Mrs Bouquet by Grosvenor)
10	Three Kings	O'Hara	Suhaimi	2
12	Ktronic	S Chua	Saifudin	3
6	Picture	Khoo	V Leal	4

9	CLASS 4 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
3	TWO M AND M	P Shaw	V Leal	1
	(4 b.arg.g Pure Prize - Agustina Strike by Candy Stripes)
10	Supermart	HW Tan	HK Cheng	2
6	Ami	S Baertschiger	J Powell	3
9	Hopkins	L Laxon	R Rueven	4