Fairway's Turf Online

Emperor Max rules in Stewards' Cup

SINGAPORE: Jun 1, 2014

EMPEROR MAX winning the Stewards' Cup with plenty in hand
- SNTC photo

After finishing second to Hong Kong's LUCKY NINE in the KrisFlyer International Sprint two weeks ago, EMPEROR MAX was always going to be the one to beat in the Stewards' Cup (1400m) at Kranji today, although it would be the first time the Australia gelding was being tested beyond 1200m.

Backed down to odds-on, EMPEROR MAX never gave his backers any anxious moment, leading throughout to win by one and a half lengths from outsider BALE STAR in the Group 2 event, the first leg of the Singapore four-year-old series.

EMPEROR MAX, who won twice from four starts in Australia, won five consecutive races before finishing second in the Kranji Sprint, Lion City Cup and KrisFlyer.

"I was a nervous wreck before the race, but we’re lucky he’s a very good horse and he fully deserved that first Group win," said trainer Stephen Gray.

"There was plenty of speed in the race and I was able to control the race. Once he went through his gears in the home straight, I released the brakes and he was just too good," said jockey Corey Brown who was riding him for the first time today.

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

	SPEEDY CAT 2013 STAKES
1	CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
3	GENOVA AT WORK	ZL Mok	D Flores	1
	(7 b.a.g Ihtiram - Big Maria by Is It True)
9	Specta Dilemma	O'Hara	R Zawari	2
7	Volkov	Khoo	YF Leong	3
13	Pegasus Victory	O'Hara	S Noh	4

	GINGERBREAD MAN 2012 STAKES
2	INITIATION - 1400M
7	HUGHSY	D Hill	D Flores	1
	(3 ch.a.g Henny Hughes - Shashzaya by Ashkalani)
1	Takeover	S Burridge	R Rueven	2
9	McConaughey	L Laxon	D Beasley	3
2	Tou Shou Bright	H Takaoka	A Munro	4

	JAMAL MALIK 2011 STAKES
3	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M
13	CAPTAIN MCCAW	L Laxon	R Rueven	1
	(4 ch.e.g Exceed And Excel - Our Sheila by Bahamian Bounty)
2	Vectis	S Burridge	S Noh	2
9	Hofburg Palace	L Laxon	M Nunes	3
1	Benji's Empire	S Burridge	P Dellorto	4

	GHOZI 2010 STAKES
4	KRANJI STAKES D - 1200M
8	ARROWHEAD	M Freedman	S Noh	1
	(3 br.a.g Testa Rossa - Piculet by Timber Country)
5	Pacino	L Laxon	R Rueven	2
14	American Vision	S Chua	P Dellorto	3
2	Northern Gold	C Brown	J See	4

	BETTER THAN EVER 2009 STAKES
5	KRANJI STAKES C - 2000M
6	FLIGHT OFTHE SAKER	C Brown	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(4 b/br.am.g Dynaformer - Ask Me No Secrets by Seattle Slew)
5	Danger Zone	H Takaoka	A Munro	2
1	Kate's Keeper	S Gray	CW Brown	3
7	Profound	L Laxon	R Rueven	4

	REVOLTE 2008B STAKES
6	KRANJI STAKES D - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
4	FACE OFF	D Koh	M Nunes	1
	(6 b.a.g Helenus - Steely Gaze by Metal Storm)
5	Black Bean	S Chua	K A'Isisuhairi	2
10	Weowna Flyer	M Clements	K Toh	3
6	Gods Speed	M Walker	L Allpress	4

	BIG MAVERICK 2007 STAKES
7	BENCHMARK 83 - 1200M
4	KLEVER MAN	S Baertschiger	J Powell	1
	(4 b.a.g Dehere - Silk Shantung by Elusive Quality)
5	Desert Fox	M Freedman	CW Brown	2
3	Bourbon Goldman	D Kok	D Flores	3
1	Sichuan Ruler	HW Tan	D Beasley	4

	SAFETY OUTLET 2006 STAKES
8	KRANJI STAKES C - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
4	PERFECT CHARGER	HW Tan	D Flores	1
	(4 b/br.nz.g One Cool Cat - Dawninsky by Stravinsky)
9	Maple Star	L Dragon	J Powell	2
6	Sure Win	M Freedman	M Nunes	3
8	Tim	L Laxon	R Rueven	4

	STEWARDS' CUP
9	SINGAPORE GROUP 2 - 1400M
1	EMPEROR MAX	S Gray	CW Brown	1
	(4 b.a.g Holy Roman Emperor - Maxerelle by Strategic)
5	Bale Star	P Shaw	I Santana	2
2	Johnny Guitar	P Shaw	B Vorster	3
3	Cavallo	S Chua	S John	4

	LIM'S ZERPERB 2005 STAKES
10	GRADUATION - 1200M
9	GOLDEN BRILLIANT	O'Hara	I Santana	1
	(3 ch.am.g Mr Greeley - Lipstick Sunset by Maria's Son)
1	Darci Charmer	M Clements	M Nunes	2
7	Callide River	S Burridge	Z Zuriman	3
6	Day By Day	S Baertschiger	D Beasley	4

	FAIRY TALE 2004 STAKES
11	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M
7	PANAMA CITY	ZL Mok	R Rueven	1
	(4 b.a.g Southern Image - Final Waltz by Danehill)
12	My Tricia	C Brown	L Allpress	2
5	Rusty Brown	M Freedman	M Nunes	3
8	Sacred City	M Yusof	B Vorster	4