Fairway's Turf Online

Bestseller tops list in Colonial Chief Stakes

SINGAPORE: Dec 2, 2023

BESTSELLER getting the better of RAISING SIXTY-ONE — SNTC photo

BESTSELLER hit the selves at the opportune moment and was rewarded with a Group 3 win in the Colonial Chief Stakes over 1700m on the polytrack at Kranji here today.

The Dream Ahead four-year-old came into the race on the back of two wins in Class 3 and carried on from there to beat his much more established rivals.

With Ronnie Stewart riding him for the first time, the Australian gelding had difficulty obtaining clear running the top of the straight but overcame that to win by half a length.

It was his sixth win in 15 starts for BESTSELLER who cost how owner A$105,000 at the 2YO in Training Sale.

"He (BETSELLER) had a good chance, but the rain came and it’s a bit tricky being on the fence. I would prefer to be one-off on the outside," said Stewart, who returns to Australia this week to begin a three-month sabbatical from racing.

"I was concerned when we got held up at the 600m, but when the gap came, he quickened very well in the straight."

"There was a bit of worrying moment when he (BESTSELLER) looked like he was going to be trapped on the fence, but he’s a gutsy horse and that was a great ride from Ronnie," said trainer Ricardo Re Grange.

"I always thought he was very unlucky in the (Singapore) Three-Year-Old series but he’s just wonderful to train."

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

1	SUPER DYNASTY 2020 STAKES
1	CLASS 5 - 1200M
11	GAMELY	J Ong	B Queiroz	1
	(8 b.a.g Golden Archer - Tiny Temptress by Favorite Trick)
2	Charismatic	L Khoo	K A'Isisuhairi	2
4	Starboy	J Ong	M Nunes	3
8	Raweno	HW Tan	PH Seow	4

2	PENNYWISE 2019 STAKES
2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
11	STOP THE WATER	S Burridge	N Rozlan	1
	(3 b.a.g Headwater - Absolvent by Encosta De Lago)
4	Fire	T Fitzsimmons	V Espindola	2
2	Flying Success	J Peters	R Iskandar	3
3	June	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	4

3	MAXIMUS 2018 STAKES
3	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
3	PACIFIC COMMANDER	J Ong	B Queiroz	1
	(3 b.a.g Written By - Miss Haystacks by Fastnet Rock)
7	Commander Jones	KS Tan	R Stewart	2
10	Ahone	HW Tan	I Saifudin	3
1	First Bowl	D Meagher	K A'Isisuhairi	4

4	NOVA STRIKE 2017 STAKES
4	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
11	GREAT COMMAND	R Le Grange	N Rozlan	1
	(5 br.a.g Air Force Blue - Charlotte's Star by Stratum)
3	Southern Speed	R Lim	M Nunes	2
6	Golden Brown	T Fitzsimmons	R Stewart	3
9	May	J Ong	N Zyrul	4

5	DANIEL 2016 STAKES
5	MAIDEN - 1400M
2	SHIHAB	S Burridge	M Nunes	1
	(4 b/br.a.g Shalaa - Sutology by Straussbrook)
7	Bintang Sixty-One	J Peters	S Jamil	2
5	Lim's Sinai	D Meagher	K A'Isisuhairi	3
10	Surfing Cloud	J Ong	PH Seow	4

6	BEST TOTHELIGN 2015 STAKES
6	CLASS 4 - 1600M (POLYTRACK)
6	SMART STAR	D Kok	I Amirul	1
	(5 b.a.g Star Witness - Power Ahead by Authorized)
3	Free Fallan'	S Baertschiger	K A'Isisuhairi	2
5	Ace Sovereign	T Fitzimmons	V Duric	3
2	Red Dragon	T Mahadi	K Faiz	4

7	ORDER OF THE SUN 2015 STAKES
7	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
1	FLAK JACKET	S Baertschiger	M Kellady	1
	(13 b.a.g Dane Shadow - Kisma by Snippets)
4	Golden Way	KS Tan	R Stewart	2
5	Red Roar	T Mahadi	I Saifudin	3
2	Happy Friday	R Lim	R Woodworth	4

8	JOHNNY GUITAR 2014 STAKES
8	CLASS 5 - 1600M
6	MY DETERMINATION	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(5 b/br.a.g Dundeel - Defender by Redoute's Choice)
15	Schneider	HW Tan	B Queiroz	2
2	Darcy	S Burridge	M Kellady	3
13	Missile Rain	J Ong	I Saifudin	4

9	STEPITUP 2013 STAKES
9	CLASS 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
9	SACRED GIFT	J Tan	R Iskandar	1
	(8 b.a.g Zoustar - Calcatta by Tale Of The Cat)
8	Akhtar	J Ong	PH Seow	2
12	Bransom	S Gray	R Stewart	3
13	Renzo	R Le Grange	V Espindola	4

10	FLYING FULTON 2012 STAKES
10	CLASS 4 - 1400M
11	KING'S GAMBIT	R Lim	Clyde Leck	1
	(5 b.a.g Capitalist - Fiesole by Fraar)
4	Super Convince	J Ong	K A'Isisuhairi	2
8	Montana Flash	D Logan	M Nunes	3
1	Pacific Warrior	D Meagher	R Woodworth	4

11	COLONIAL CHIEF STAKES
11	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 (CW) - 1700M
11	BESTSELLER	R Le Grange	R Stewart	1
	(4 b.a.g Dream Ahead - Maxi Dress by Shamardal)
9	Raising Sixty-One	T Fitzsimmons	B Queiroz	2
6	Relentless	T Fitzsimmons	V Duric	3
8	Mr Black Back	R Lim	M Nunes	4

12	ZAC INFLUENCE 2011 STAKES
12	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
7	GROOVY	R Lim	K A'Isisuhairi	1
	(4 b.nz.g Swiss Ace - Kahala by Captain Rio)
12	Strike Gold	R Le Grange	V Espindola	2
4	Fighting Hero	J Ong	B Queiroz	3
1	Legend Of The Sun	D Koh	K Faiz	4