Fairway's Turf Online

Grand Cross back a winner with blinkers

SINGAPORE: Mar 24, 2017

GRAND CROSS cruises to an easy victory - SNTC photo

GRAND CROSS returned to the winner's circle after sporting blinkers for the first time in three starts this season at Kranji here tonight, after abandoning the gear in his last two runs.

The Fastnet Rock gelding had scored twice with blinkers last year, both times with Vlad Duric astride.

The four-year-old finished fourth to ELUSIVE EMPEROR last time out and despite facing the winner again today, started even-money favourite in the Class 3 - 1200m handicap.

Punters' faith in GRAND CROSS was justified when the gelding made all the running to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

"The blinkers were back on, and he was fit and sharp tonight. A couple of runs under the belt did the trick," said trainer James Peters.

Peters went on to win the next two races with WINNING EXPRESS and DREAMWEAVER.

Duric picked up a second win on POSEIDON and the double put him back on top of the jockeys' standings with 19 wins.

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

1	CLASS 5- 1600M
9	POWERFUL AS WIND	Khoo	N Juglall	1
	(4 br.a.g Danzero - Royal Scam by Palace Music)
8	Percius	S Gray	G Boss	2
6	Perfect Challenger	HW Tan	A Munro	3
7	Lim's Control	M Walker	D Beasley	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1600M
3	MR EXCHEQUER	S Baertschiger	J Powell	1
	(3 br.nz.g Savabeel - Apollo Treasure by Apollo)
1	Khudawand	M Clements	V Duric	2
11	Gold Reward	C Brown	G Boss	3
8	Super G	S Yeoh	D David	4

3	CLASS 3 - 1200M
2	GRAND CROSS	J Peters	V Duric	1
	(4 b.a.g Fastnet Rock - Defiant Dame by More Than Ready)
3	Elusive Emperor	R Le Grange	N Juglall	2
8	Eatons Gold	M Walker	M Jailani	3
6	Pusaka	S Gray	I Amirul	4

4	INITIATION - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1	WINNING EXPRESS	J Peters	G Boss	1
	(4 b.a.g Easy Rocking - Wimpel by St Covet)
3	Danzeb	S Yeoh	S Shafrizal	2
7	I'm On Fire	R Le Grange	N Juglall	3
11	Super Genius	CT Kuah	WS Chan	4

5	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M
1	DREAMWEAVER	J Peters	G Boss	1
	(5 b.ir.g Jeremy - Indus Ridge by Indian Ridge)
4	Gold Crown	C Brown	V Duric	2
12	Soon Yi	HW Tan	N Nurshahril	3
3	Lucky Stride	CT Kuah	D David	4

6	CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
2	MILLION ROUND	D Koh	Woodworth	1
	(5 b.nz.g Edenwold - Sparks Will Fly by Almutawakel)
1	Hun Yeang Village	S Yeoh	S Shafrizal	2
9	A Lot In Hand	HK Tan	M Ewe	3
8	Perfect Curiosity	HK Tan	TH Koh	4

7	BENCHMARK 83 - 1400M
2	POSEIDON	C Brown	V Duric	1
	(5 b.nz.g Gold Centre - Waikiki Princess by Turtle Island)
1	Viviano	M Walker	M Nunes	2
5	Absolute Miracle	HW Tan	D Beasley	3
6	Golden Curl	S Gray	CC Wong	4

8	BENCHMARK 67 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
8	GOLDEN TOMAHAWK	M Clements	R Shafiq	1
	(5 ch.a.g Libourne Lad - Piacenza by Darshaan)
10	Nova Missile	HW Tan	D David	2
3	Anonymous	S Yeoh	S John	3
4	Cadet	R Le Grange	N Juglall	3
	*Dead-heat for 3rd

9	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M
2	MR SCORSESE	L Laxon	M Nunes	1
	(4 gr.nz.g Pentire - Marie Claire by O'Reilly)
10	Marea Negro	H Takaoka	D David	2
1	Star Genius	S Baertschiger	H Syafiq	3
8	Happy Saga	HW Tan	N Nurshahril	4