Fairway's Turf Online

Baffert lands comeback after a year

SINGAPORE: Jan 13, 2019

BAFFERT (Michael Rodd) coasting to an easy comeback win - SNTC photo

Things were looking bright for BAFFERT when he won his third Singapore start this month last year, and this was followed by three consecutive second-place finishes in Class 3.

But the Australian gelding failed to show up in four starts in the second half of 2018.

BAFFERT's returned to form began with winning a trial on new year's eve and he has carried on from that effort to win a Kranji Stakes C event over 1200m at Kranji here today.

Michael Rodd, who rode him to victory last year, was back in the saddle and they won comfortably two lengths after being well up with the pace.

"He’s a nice consistent horse and he deserved it. He came back from a break and was really well," said trainer Cliff Brown. "It’s the first time he’s drawn a barrier for a long time. That helped, too." (BAFFERT drew double-digit barriers in his last three runs.)

BAFFERT ran fourth in his only start at two and had a win and three placings (including two at Moonee Valley) in seven runs at three in Australia before coming up here. He has now two wins in 12 starts in Singapore.

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

1	CLASS 4 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	SUPER DENMAN	R Le Grange	B Vorster	1
	(4 b.a.g Denman - Boat Quay by Belong To Me)
3	Ol Mate Buzzer	KY Young	M Rodd	2
6	Lucky Six	L Dragon	S John	3
5	Burkaan	D Logan	Aslam	4

2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA) - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
1	BOY NEXT DOOR	KS Tan	CC Wong	1
	(3 ch.nz.g Showcasing - Lemonade by Bertolini)
5	Super Smart	KY Young	S Shafrizal	2
2	Flaunt	L Dragon	B Vorster	3
6	Tax Free	O'Hara	N Juglall	4

3	NOVICE (SW) - 1200M
7	GINGERELLA	M Clements	V Duric	1
	(4 b.a.m Gingerbread Man - Jestervale by Real Jester)
3	Fame Star	O'Hara	M Rodd	2
9	Gentlemen Agreement	L Dragon	S John	3
12	Federation	M Walker	D Moor	4

4	CLASS 5 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
1	GOLDEN SPARK	CT Kuah	TH Koh	1
	(5 ch.am.g Munnings - Shes Her Own Posse by Posse)
2	Roughead	M Yusof	Y Salim	2
3	Success Come True	M Walker	T See	3
5	Golden Rooster	S Gray	V Duric	4

5	MAIDEN - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
1	EINSTEIN'S CROSS	R Le Grange	T Krisna	1
	(4 b.a.g Benfica - Starrystarrynight by Sadler's Wells)
8	Walters Bay	CT Kuah	Azhar	2
3	Larry	S Gray	D Moor	3
2	King Cobra	B Marsh	V Duric	4

6	KRANJI STAKES C (SW), DIV 2 - 1200M
8	BAFFERT	C Brown	M Rodd	1
	(5 br.a.g Exceed And Excel - Canyonville by Black Minnaloushe)
1	Paparazzi	KS Tan	B THompson	2
3	Yulong Xiongyin	D Kok	Y Salim	3
6	Revolution	HW Tan	V Duric	4

7	CLASS 4 - 1600M
4	HIGHER SOUL	H Takaoka	CC Wong	1
	(8 br.j.m Higher Game - Sweet Soul by Soul Of The Matter)
2	Yaya Papaya	Khoo	Z Zuriman	2
11	Oliver	S Baertschiger	B Thompson	3
14	Jupiter Dragon	H Takaoka	N Juglall	4

8	KRANJI STAKES C (SW), DIV 1 - 1200M
8	STUNNING CAT	S Baertschiger	B Vorster	1
	(4 br.a.g Smart Missile - Fornini by Stravinsky)
4	Made In Russia	DL Freedman	D Moor	2
3	Lim's Shot	D Meagher	T See	3
10	Elise	D Meagher	Kellady	4

9	CLASS 4 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1	CLASSIFIED	B Marsh	T See	1
	(7 br.nz.g Savabeel - Fire Song by Senor Pete)
2	Northern Sun	D Koh	N Juglall	2
12	Dixieland Rock	D Logan	CC Wong	3
5	Crazy Dreams	M Yusof	A Syahir	4