Fairway's Turf Online

Old campaigner Flax wins Committee's Prize

SINGAPORE: Sep 20, 2015

FLAX (inside) staves off the challenge of FASTNET DRAGON - SNTC photo

FLAX showed that he can still measure up to the best although he is now nine and has not won in a little more than a year when he scored an upset win in the Group 3 Committee's Prize (1600m) at Kranji here today.

At his peak, the South African gelding won the Raffles Cup in 2012, and he has followed up to win the Group 3 Chairman's Trophy the following season and the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy last year.

FLAX, though, has not been disgraced in his recent runs, finishing third in the Moonbeam Vase last April and fourth in the Paititi Gold Trophy in July.

But up against a field of younger horses with the likes of STEPITUP and FASTNET DRAGON, FLAX was overlooked in the betting and started at long odds.

But FLAX, ridden by Michael Rodd for the first time, was a handy third early and took over the running in the back straight when there was not much pace on. He was headed momentarily by MAJESTIC MOMENTS at the top of the straight but fought back to regain in the lead.

The favourite FASTNET DRAGON made a late bid but FLAX held on to win by a short head.

"I cannot believe what this horse can do at the age of nine. He’s such a wonderful horse," said his owner Dennis Evans who was at the course to see FLAX chalked up his ninth win in 29 starts in Singapore.

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

	SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS STAKES
1	MAIDEN, DIV 2 - 1200M
9	SUVARNABHUMI	M Freedman	CW Brown	1
	(4 b.a.g Myboycharlie - Suantrai by Sinndar)
1	Aguila Azteca	M Walker	Y Salim	2
6	Windsor Knot	B Dean	A Munro	3
3	Sir Reginald	S Gray	R Shafiq	4

	HORTPARK STAKES
2	INITIATION - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2	LAKE HUKA	L Laxon	M Rodd	1
	(4 b.nz.g Guillotine - Royal Cashel by Royal Academy)
1	Keystone	S Baertschiger	H Syafiq	2
8	Miss Waimataitai	M Walker	MM Firdaus	3
3	Natural Impulse	C Brown	R Shafiq	4

	MOUNT FABER PARK STAKES
3	CLASS 5 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
5	BLOSSOMS SEQUEL	L Laxon	A Munro	1
	(6 b.a.g Royal Academy - Rubey Reiby by Red Ransom)
2	Sebrose	M Walker	M Nunes	2
1	Power Play	P Shaw	N Juglall	3
3	Flying Zero	M Freedman	CW Brown	4

	JURONG PARK STAKES
4	CLASS 5 - 1900M (POLYTRACK)
3	CHI LIN	S Lam	R Rueven	1
	(6 b.a.g Choisir - Cheiri by Zabeel)
8	Right Is Right	Khoo	N Juglall	2
5	Shabbat	D Koh	Saifudin	3
9	Seasons Wonder	D Hill	S Lam	4

	FORT CANNING PARK STAKES
5	GRADUATION - 1200M
5	SPEEDY DRAGON	D Kok	M Nunes	1
	(3 ch.am.g Safe In The U S A - Yen by Lure)
8	GOLDEN SWORD	C Brown	CC Wong	1
	(3 ch.nz.g Swiss Ace - Asciano Miss by Jet Spur)
1	Hydro	M Freedman	CW Brown	3
4	Hardcore Rock	M Walker	R Shafiq	4
	*Dead-heat for 1st

	GARDEN CITY TROPHY
6	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 (CW) - 1200M
1	EMPEROR MAX	S Gray	CW Brown	1
	(6 b.a.g Holy Roman Emperor - Maxerelle by Strategic)
6	Super Winner	T Kieser	Soo	2
8	Wimbledon	M Freedman	A Munro	3
7	Bale Star	P Shaw	N Juglall	4

	ADMIRALITY PARKS STAKES
7	CLASS 5 - 1200M
7	SUPER BONUS	D Kok	Y Salim	1
	(5 ch.nz.g Iffraaj - Well Kept by Daggers Drawn)
4	How Huge	D Hill	CC Wong	2
16	So Perfect	M Yusof	H Syafiq	3
15	Not Simple	S Lam	R Rueven	4

	NATIONAL ORCHID GARDEN STAKES
8	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
5	THE COSMOS	M Walker	M Nunes	1
	(4 br.a.g Darci Brahma - Ennerdale by Singspiel)
8	Racer King	T Kieser	Soo	2
1	Media Captain	C Brown	CC Wong	3
10	Gadawon	S Baertschiger	Z Zuriman	4

	GARDENS BY THE BAY STAKES
9	MAIDEN, DIV 1 - 1200M
1	HEE'S MAVERICK	L Laxon	M Rodd	1
	(4 ch.nz.g Sir Percy - Lionstar by Pentire)
2	Dragon Highness	HW Tan	CW Brown	2
7	Bimala	D Hill	CC Wong	3
10	I-Scream Now	M Yusof	TH Koh	4

	COMMITTEE'S PRIZE
10	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 - 1600M
3	FLAX	D Hill	M Rodd	1
	(9 b.saf.g Silvano - Bejewelled Spring - Elliodor)
11	Fastnet Dragon	Khoo	A Munro	2
13	Majestic Moments	P Shaw	N Juglall	3
8	Cheetah On Fire	B Marsh	Kellady	4

	SEMBAWANG PARK STAKES
11	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
3	Q NINE MAGIC	M Walker	M Nunes	1
	(5 gr.nz.g Guillotine - Skag Way by Gleam Machine)
6	Kiss Me	HW Tan	R Rueven	2
9	Imperial Boy	M Clements	J See	3
10	Helen	L Laxon	CW Brown	4

	WOODLANDS TOWN GARDEN STAKES
12	CLASS 4 - 1600M
6	ODE TO JOY	M Clements	M Nunes	1
	(4 br.arg.g Orpen - Salsa Inglesa by Roy)
7	Bring Money Home	HK Tan	Zaki	2
4	Any Rumour	C Brown	R Shafiq	3
11	Rum N Raisins	ZL Mok	J See	4