Fairway's Turf Online

Nova Strike finally lands a group win

SINGAPORE: Dec 3, 2017

NOVA STRIKE coasting to victory in the Colonel Chief Stakes - SNTC photo

After being placed four times in numerous attempts at group races, NOVA STRIKE finally claimed one when he scored a runaway win in the Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes at Kranji here today.

And it provided three-time Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes with a fitting farewell to Singapore racing. "I will take a break now, take a flight to Brazil tonight, and I will see what happens," said the Brazilian.

And NOVA STRIKE is one horse who Nunes has enjoyed the most successes with, having ridden him 21 times for six wins.

Earlier this year, the New Zealand gelding finished third to INFANTRY in the Singapore Derby and was somewhat disappointing in four runs since.

Today's final group race of the 2017 season might not have as strong a field as he has faced this year but NOVA STRIKE still had to get the job done. And what a performance he put up!

Tracking pacemaker LIM'S CRUISER from the start, NOVA STRIKE raced past the leader with ease in the home stretch to win by 4 1/2 lengths. It was his eighth win in 35 starts.

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

1	CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1	GET GOING	M Clements	R Zawari	1
	(7 ch.a.g Mossman - Money Mover by Bigstone)
2	Lim's Stardom	J Peters	O Placais	2
4	Turquoise Son	D Hill	M Nunes	3
3	Parker	B Marsh	V Duric	4

2	INITIATION - 1200M
2	BLACK QUAIL	M Walker	R Zawari	1
	(4 br.nz.g Coats Choice - Sefidi by Bigstone)
10	Crown Gift	KY Young	Woodworth	2
1	Boy Wonder	J Saimee	V Duric	3
13	Arc Triumph	J Peters	D Moor	4

3	CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
10	NORTHERN SUN	D Koh	CC Wong	1
	(4 b.a.g Northern Meteor - Opaque by Lord Seymour)
2	Dragon Spirit	M Yusof	O Placais	2
11	Stock Broker	M Clements	R Zawari	3
6	Buenos Aires	J Peters	D Moor	4

4	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M
6	SOUTHERN SPUR	J Saimee	S Noh	1
	(4 b.a.g Northern Meteor - Spurific by Flying Spur)
3	Paparazzi	S Baertschiger	J Powell	2
11	Jacks Secret	M Walker	N Hanafi	3
4	Chase	HW Tan	O Placais	4

5	CLASS 5 - 1600M
1	HONGCHEN	J Saimee	S Noh	1
	(7 b.nz.g Fully Fledged - High Tea by High Chaparral)
9	Joyous	M Yusof	N Hanafi	2
3	Foresto	C Brown	M Rodd	3
2	Imdragon	L Dragon	S John	4

6	CLASS 4 - 1600M
2	PUSAKA	S Gray	M Rodd	1
	(7 b.a.g Dane Shadow - Favourite Way by Strategic)
5	Chocolats	S Baertschiger	J Powell	2
4	Majestic Empress	R Le Grange	B Vorster	3
10	Turf Champion	M Yusof	M Nunes	4

7	KRANJI STAKES A - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
11	SKYWALK	J Peters	D Moor	1
	(4 b.j.m Sinister Minister - Kyowa le Ciel by Symboli Kris)
9	Super Fortune	HW Tan	O Placais	2
3	Distinctive Darci	M Walker	V Duric	3
5	The General	R Le Grange	B Vorster	4

8	KRANJI STAKES C - 2000M
8	SHOQEET	J Saimee	V Duric	1
	(4 ch.nz.g Showcasing - Twentyfirstcentury by Sadler's Wells)
6	Golazo	H Takaoka	Chavez	2
3	Mighty Emperor	R Le Grange	B Vorster	3
9	Showar	J Peters	Aslam	4

9	COLONIAL CHIEF STAKES
9	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
7	NOVA STRIKE	HW Tan	M Nunes	1
	(5 ch.nz.g Red Giant - La Panthere by Generous)
10	Magstock	C Brown	K A'Isisuhairi	2
11	Lim's Racer	DL Freedman	Kellady	3
5	Mighty Kenny	R Le Grange	B Vorster	4

10	CLASS 3 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
3	TANNHAUSER	M Clements	V Duric	1
	(4 b.nz.g Tavistock - Foxette by Entrepreneur)
11	Himalaya Dragon	KS Tan	CC Wong	2
13	Lim's Sincere	D Meagher	B Vorster	3
4	Red Dawn	S Baertschiger	Kellady	4
8	Siam Sapphire	M Clements	M Nunes	4
	*Dead-heat for 4th

11	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M
9	REALLY CAPABLE	S Gray	W Pike	1
	(5 ch.nz.g Handsome Ransom - Finissima by Fasliyev)
1	Ancient Warrior	M Walker	R Zawari	2
6	King Louis	R Le Grange	B Vorster	3
4	Lim's Regard	M Walker	G Boss	4