Fairway's Turf Online

Infantry guns down rivals in Merlion Trophy

SINGAPORE: Mar 5, 2017

INFANTRY races up to NOVA SWISS (centre) and WIMBLEDON to win the
Merlion Trophy - SNTC photo

The Merlion Trophy, elevated to Group 2 status this year, must sure rank as champion trainer Alwin Tan's favourite event.

Since registering his first black-type success in this race in 2013 with SPEEDY CAT, he has gone on to win it three more times in the four years.

EL PADRINO, who won in 2014 and 2015, just failed to to make a hat-trick after going to SPALATO last year.

But Tan was back in the winner's circle at Kranji here today when INFANTRY blasted his rivals to win the 1200m sprint on the polytrack, defeating the favourite and stablemate NOVA SWISS.

INFANTRY was racing for the first time season after his last-start third to DANIEL in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes (1700m) last Dec 4.

"INFANTRY is a very consistent horse and though he is more of a middle-distance horse, there was not much choice but to run him over a short distance first-up," said Tan. "(Manoel) Nunes knows Infantry very well and he pushed the button at the right time to just get there."

INFANTRY, bought for NZ$7,000 as a weanling, has now picked up six wins from 15 starts and more than S$560,000 as prizemoney.

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

1	SPALATO 2016 STAKES
1	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
3	THE COSMOS	M Walker	R Shafiq	1
	(5 br.a.g Darci Brahma - Ennerdale by Singspiel)
7	Hiko Yunikon	ZL Mok	K A'Isisuhairi	2
2	Haytham	M Walker	G Mosse	3
8	Euro Zone	L Laxon	V Duric	4

2	EL PADRINO 2014 & 2015 STAKES
2	RESTRUCTED MAIDEN - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	GREY FALCON	HW Tan	M Rodd	1
	(3 ch.nz.g Align - Volta by Senor Pete)
2	One Kinabalu	S Baertschiger	J Powell	2
5	Perfect DJ	ZL Mok	Saifudin	3
4	Super Dan	D Meagher	M Nunes	4

3	SPEEDY CAT 2013 STAKES
3	CLASS 4 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
2	CADET	R Le Grange	N Juglall	1
	(3 br.a.g Captain Senador - Stifler's Mum by Holy Roman Emperor)
3	Champagne Rein	M Walker	G Mosse	2
4	Faithfully	HW Tan	S John	3
1	Dreamweaver	J Peters	M Rodd	4

4	BETTER THAN EVER 2012 STAKES
4	CLASS 5 - 1200M
4	MORALES	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(5 ch.a.g Zizou - Love Attack by Commands)
15	ACROSS THE SEA	H Takaoka	D David	1
	(5 b.j.g Black Tide - Beauty Blonde by Taiki Shuttle)
1	Amazing Man	S Yeoh	S Shafrizal	3
5	Helen	L Laxon	Y Salim	4
	*Dead-heat for 1st

5	TUXEDO MOON 2011 STAKES
5	KRANJI STAKES C - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
1	GILT COMPLEX	C Brown	M Rodd	1
	(5 b.nz.g Gold Centre - San Ysabeel by Zabeel)
7	Mighty Kenny	R Le Grange	N Juglall	2
5	Kate's Keeper	S Gray	V Duric	3
11	Cordoba	D Hill	Anandan	4

6	MEXICAN ROSE 2010 STAKES
6	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
13	SMART FORTUNE	D Meagher	Y Salim	1
	(5 gr.ir.g Moss Vale - Alynamix by Linamix)
1	Silent Arrow	S Lam	V Duric	2
6	Desert Fox	O'Hara	Saifudin	3
3	Super Brilliant	T Kieser	D David	4

7	BEAU BRUMMELL 2009 STAKES
7	CLASS 3 - 1200M
5	ELUSIVE EMPEROR	R Le Grange	B Vorster	1
	(5 b.nz.g Elusive City - Race Empress by St Petersburg)
10	Caorunn	S Baertschiger	G Boss	2
11	Lim's Dashing	S Gray	O Placais	3
2	Grand Cross	J Peters	V Duric	4

8	WHY BE 2006, 2007 & 2008 STAKES
8	CLASS 5 - 1600M
6	EL DON	S Gray	V Duric	1
	(4 b.nz.g Don Eduardo - Divinity by Woodman)
11	Perfect Challenger	HW Tan	M Ewe	2
1	Aspen	M Walker	R Shafiq	3
12	Cheetah King	Khoo	A Munro	4

9	MERLION TROPHY
9	SINGAPORE GROUP 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
5	INFANTRY	HW Tan	M Nunes	1
	(4 b.nz.g Tavistock - The Nightingale by Stravinsky)
12	Nova Swiss	HW Tan	O Placais	2
1	Wimbledon	J Peters	V Duric	3
4	Good News	HK Tan	Woodworth	4

10	NINETYFIVE EMPEROR 2004 & 2005 STAKES
10	CLASS 4 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
6	THE CAPITAL	R Le Grange	B Vorster	1
	(5 b.ir.g Bernardini - Christmas Kid by Lemon Drop Kid)
4	Red Claw	D Meagher	O Placais	2
10	Montaigne	S Baertschiger	Y Salim	3
5	Sure Win	D Koh	Zaki	4

11	QUE EXPRESION 2003 STAKES
11	CLASS 4 - 1600M
15	DAVINCI	J Peters	G Boss	1
	(5 b.nz.g Mastercraftsman - All Night Party by Just A Dancer)
5	Iking	M Walker	R Shafiq	2
3	Lucky Lincoln	B Marsh	J Powell	3
11	Lake Huka	L Laxon	A Munro	4