Fairway's Turf Online

Mesmerizing hands Crutchley first win

SINGAPORE: Mar 5, 2022

MESMERIZING (No. 6) prevails in a three-way photo - SNTC photo

Newly-licensed trainer Stephen Crutchley saddled his first winner in Singapore when MESMERIZING caused boil-over against six rivals in the Class 4 - 1700m handicap on the polytrack at Kranji here today.

Crutchley has been a familiar face at Kranji, having been an assistant trainer since here 2014. He is one of two new trainers granted licences for the current season, alongside former jockey Richard Lim.

Crutchley trained 115 winners in New Zealand before embarking on his Singapore venture.

He drew a blank in his first two meetings, then had two runners — MESMERIZING and GREEN STAR — in his first engagements today.

MESMERIZING, who won his Singapore debut last September, started at long odds ($181) after faring badly in three subsequent starts. In a tightly run race throughout, he just got home a short head ahead of CHEVAL BLANC who was distinctly unlucky after failing to get a clear run on the rails until near the finishing line.

"I thought both horses had a good chance. They’ve both been working well, looked really well in their colour," Crutchley said.

"I was a bit surprised the other horse (GREEN STAR) was held back further than I would have liked and didn’t travel closer as he was supposed to lead. Not sure what happened there, but he still ran well (fourth).

"The winner didn’t like sand in his face the last time, and we put the blinkers on today. That made a big difference."

MESMERIZING, placed in four of six starts in his native Argentina, was the second leg of a treble for apprentice Iskandar Rosman who also scored on AUN RECTITUDE and SACRED GIFT. They were his first wins of the year.

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

1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M
6	SUN RECTITUDE	D Koh	R Iskandar	1
	(6 ch.a.g Sepoy - Ladys Angel by Arena)
12	Gamely	D Logan	J Bayliss	2
10	Beer Garden	J Tan	M Akmazani	3
9	Super Incredible	HW Tan	M Nunes	4

2	MAIDEN - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
5	TESORO PIRATA	J Peters	M Lerner	1
	(4 br.arg.g Orpen - Tesorilla Class by In Class)
7	Raging Brave	J Tan	I Amirul	2
6	City Gate	HW Tan	M Akmazani	3
2	Fighting Hero	J Ong	D Beasley	4

181

3	CLASS 4 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
6	MESMERIZING	S Crutchley	R Iskandar	1
	(4 ch.arg.h Cosmic Trigger - Personal Sale by Not For Sale)
2	Cheval Blanc	S Gray	M Lerner	2
5	Queen Lagertha	H Takaoka	I Saifudin	3
4	Green Star	S Crutchley	M Akmazani	4

4	CLASS 5 - 2000M
4	TONY'S LOVE	R Le Grange	D Beasley	1
	(4 b.a.g Artie Schiller - Vaziri by Oratorio (IRE))
3	Split Second	S Burridge	J Bayliss	2
9	Sir Elton	J Peters	CC Wong	3
2	Super Atas	T Fitzsimmons	M Nunes	4

5	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
4	THOMAS DE LAGO	D Koh	M Nunes	1
	(8 b.a.g Dylan Thomas - Joie De Lago by Encosta De Lago)
1	Our Secret Weapon	D Logan	CC Wong	2
10	Supersonicsurprise	HW Tan	K A'Isisuhairi	3
5	My Boss	KY Young	S Shafrizal	4

6	CLASS 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
7	SACRED GIFT	J Tan	R Iskandar	1
	(6 b.a.g Zoustar - Calcatta by Take Of The Cat)
4	King Arthur	D Logan	CC Wong	2
3	Darc Bounty	S Gray	N Zyrul	3
6	Ararat Lady	T Fitzsimmons	M Zaki	4

7	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M
7	SUN ELIZABETH	H Takaoka	S John	1
	(8 b.j.m Lohengrin - Wanita Lestari by Eishin Sandy)
5	See Yah	J Ong	M Nunes	2
11	Burgundy Lad	D Koh	R Iskandar	3
9	Turf Beauty	J Tan	CC Wong	4

8	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
10	BIG TIGER	J Tan	CC Wong	1
	(5 b.a.g Akeed Mofeed - Lucky Morna by Ferocity)
1	Illustrious	T Fitzsimmons	M Nunes	2
7	From The Navy	S Baertschiger	M Zaki	3
4	Hamama	J Lim	M Lerner	4

9	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1000M (POLYTRACK)
3	MISTER DYNAMO	T Fitzsimmons	M Nunes	1
	(5 b.a.g All Too Hard - Belscenica by Scenic)
9	Tax Free	J Lim	I Saifudin	2
8	Super Posh	D Logan	J Bayliss	3
1	Arion Passion	KY Young	T See	4

10	CLASS 3 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
11	STRONG N BEST	CT Kuah	S John	1
	(5 b.nz.g Rock 'N' Pop - Flat White by Thorn Park)
7	Tangible	M Clements	M Nunes	2
2	Savvy Command	J Tan	T See	3
1	Pennywise	R Le Grange	D Beasley	4

11	CLASS 4 - 1400M
10	RICVELO	J Ong	K A'isisuhairi	1
	(5 b.a.g Toronado - Kurylenko by Exceed And Excel)
7	Lucky Imperator	D Koh	R Iskandar	2
2	In All His Glory	T Fitzsimmons	M Nunes	3
3	Den Of Thieves	T Fitzsimmons	J Bayliss	4

12	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
3	CRYSTAL WARRIOR	J Lim	M Nunes	1
	(4 b.a.g I Am Invincible - Unswerving by Commands)
4	Proof Perfect	S Crutchley	CC Wong	2
9	Free Fallin'	S Baertschiger	M Zaki	3
11	My Big Brother	J Lim	TH Koh	4