Fairway's Turf Online

Winning return to racing for Zac Spirit

SINGAPORE: Jan 19, 2014

ZAC SPIRIT coasting to an easy win - SNTC photo

After notching up four wins from eight starts last year, ZAC SPIRIT resumed from a let-up and quickly got back into winning ways in the Kranji Stakes A sprint over 1200m at Kranji here today.

Ridden by Alan Munro, the Australian gelding got the better of another promising four-year-old HOLY EMPIRE to win by one and three-quarter lengths.

Another four-year-old, newcomer JOHNNY GUITAR, was third and all three could feature in the four-year-old series later in the season.

But for now, trainer Cliff Brown will set his sight on the Three Rings Trophy (run on Feb 16) with ZAC SPIRIT, who is a half-brother to ZAC INFLUENCE, a Group 3 winner (Pronin Construct Stakes) who was also placed at Group 1 level (third in Raffles Cup).

ZAC SPIRIT was purchased by Brown for A$140,000 as a yearling and was a debut winner last year. He then picked up steam to win three consecutive races before finishing third to CASH LICK in the Group 1 Kranji Mile last October.

"I was very concerned when he was unusually slow out of the gates and when he was caught three wide facing the breeze, but he was too good in the end," said Brown.

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

1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1600M
7	CAN'T TOUCH ME	P Shaw	B Vorster	1
	(5 br.a.g Untouchable - Montavator by Montjeu)
4	More Than Worthy	D Koh	D Flores	2
2	Danger Money	B Marsh	CW Brown	3
1	Jet Cosmo	S Chua	S John	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5	BLUE DIAMOND	T Kieser	D Beasley	1
	(3 b.a.g Tale Of The Cat - Mighty Atalanta by Mighty Avalanche)
8	Laser Storm	HW Tan	WL Tan	2
3	Powerful Fighter	HW Tan	K A'Isisuhairi	3
6	Exciting Prospect	S Burridge	CW Brown	4

3	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 2 - 1200M
2	STILETTO	B Marsh	B Vorster	1
	(4 b.nz.m Strategic Image - Goody Two Shoes by Danasinga)
9	Oh Money Come	M Yusof	Soo	2
5	War Lord	L Dragon	J Powell	3
3	Supermart	HW Tan	HK Cheng	4

4	INITIATION - 1600M
6	ZIPANGU	H Takaoka	A Munro	1
	(4 b.j.g Stay Gold - Brighton Biko by Forty Niner)
7	Marine Park	D Kok	K A'Isisuhairi	2
5	Battle Boy	HK Tan	Sam	3
5	Pharma Browne	M Walker	M Nunes	3
	*Dead-heat for 3rd

5	CLASS 4 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
6	CLUTHA LAD	M Walker	R Shafiq	1
	(4 ch.nz.g Thorn Park - Maggies Farm by Forest Wildcat)
2	Golden Mission	M Clements	M Nunes	2
9	Accomplished	S Chua	T See	3
3	Royal Style	ZL Mok	Chavez	4

6	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1600M
10	BIG HARVEST	D Koh	M Nunes	1
	(4 ch.a.g Husson - Summer Flight by Danehill)
2	Chi Lin	S Lam	Kellady	2
3	Gallant Heights	HK Tan	Saifudin	3
9	Ange D'Orient	H Takaoka	L Allpress	4

7	PROGRESS - 1200M
3	WILD GEESE	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(5 b.e.g Exceed And Excel - Court Lane by Machiavellian)
1	Listen	D Kok	T See	2
6	Desert Fox	M Freedman	CW Brown	3
4	Southern Lord	M Walker	R Shafiq	4

8	CLASS 5 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
5	STREET RUFFIAN	HW Tan	K Yazid	1
	(7 ch.nz.g Bertolini - Tip Top Showgirl by Luskin Star)
8	Solid Wood	ZL Mok	S Noh	2
10	Richeast	O'Hara	T See	3
9	Magic Diva	O'Hara	S John	4

9	KRANJI STAKES A - 1200M
7	ZAC SPIRIT	C Brown	A Munro	1
	(4 b.a.g Flying Spur - Kidman by Quest For Fame)
4	Holy Empire	M Freedman	M Nunes	2
8	Johnny Guitar	P Shaw	B Vorster	3
1	Goal Keeper	T Kieser	S Noh	4

10	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 1 - 1200M
4	BENJI'S RULE	S Gray	L Allpress	1
	(6 b.nz.g Stravinsky - Something Special by Bletchingly)
7	D'Artagnan	M Freedman	A Munro	2
6	Twist Oliver	C Brown	CW Brown	3
5	Cool Cat	D Hill	I Santana	4

11	CLASS 4 - 1600M
10	CHEETAH	HW Tan	Chavez	1
	(4 b.nz.g Gold Centre - Kiwi Dancer by Dance Floor)
7	Fast Fast Boy	B Marsh	M Nunes	2
8	Brilliant Deal	H Takaoka	A Munro	3
4	Lucky Dapper	P Shaw	B Vorster	4