Fairway's Turf Online

Ghalib on the upgrade with fifth win

SINGAPORE: Feb 17, 2024

GHALIB winning the Kranji Stakes A sprint — SNTC photo

GHALIB, a city winner in Australia before coming to Singapore, defied a jump in class to win the Kranji Stakes A sprint over 1100m at Kranji here today.

The Australian gelding opened the new season with a runaway win in Class 3 four weeks ago.

Despite meeting stronger opponents at the different level, punters still sent GHALIB off as the S$7 favourite.

After jumping well from barrier 1, Manoel Nunes had GHALIB sit a handy third behind ILLUSTRIOUS and LUCKY JINSHA.

With ILLUSTRIOUS beaten making the home turn, LUCKY JINSHA led into the straight and GHALIB moved up into the second spot on the rails.

GHALIB took a run on the inside of horses at the 300m and took a clear at the 200m. RENZO, then SACRED GIFT tried to get to the leader in the final stages but GHALIB had too much to spare, winning by 1 1/2 lengths.

"Everything went how we thought it would today," said Nunes who has ridden GHALIB six times for five wins.

"The barrier helped, he jumped well and I got the sit behind LUCKY JINSHA as we expected.

"I know LUCKY JINSHA well, so I knew there was a big chance he would hang out in the straight and I was happy to be tracking him.

"But Jerlyn’s horse (ILLUSTRIOUS) was off the bit at the 400m, so I thought I would come off heels and take that run but when it closed, I went for the fence.

"When I pressed the button, he (GHALIB) responded and with 53kgs, we were always going to be hard to beat.

"I’m not sure where we go next but we will have a look at the (Group 2) EW (Barker Trophy) or maybe a Class 2 race," said trainer Steven Burridge.

"He’s really thriving and still putting on condition."

GHALIB won his only run at Kensington at two and was placed one in five runs at three in Melbourne before coming to Singapore where he has raced nine times for five wins.

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

1	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M
1	NATURE CHIEF	J Ong	TH Koh	1
	(4 b.nz.g Time Test - Deb by Darci Brahma)
4	Healthy Baby	J Ong	B Queiroz	2
5	Commander Jones	KS Tan	R Curatolo	3
2	Pacific Star	J Ong	V Duric	4

2	OPEN MAIDEN (WFA) - 1200M
6	AUSPICIOUS KING	L Khoo	B Queiroz	1
	(3 br.nz.g Per Incanto - Belle Vie by Darci Brahma)
8	Rubik Kid	J Peters	T Trisna	2
10	Ben's Champion	T Fitzsimmons	Jaden Lloyd	3
5	Lucky Goal	J Ong	M Nunes	4

3	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
1	PACIFIC CHARM	J Ong	V Duric	1
	(5 b.a.g Maurice - Red Roses Too by Not A Single Doubt)
2	Fountain Of Fame	J Peters	M Nunes	2
9	Sirius	J Ong	B Queiroz	3
7	Ben Wade	T Fitzsimmons	R Azhar	4

4	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
3	ALWAYS TOGETHER	D Meagher	M Lerner	1
	(4 b.a.g Shalaa - Chivonne by Toorak Toff)
5	Show All Sixty-One	J Peters	Clyde Leck	2
7	Pacific Commander	J Ong	TH Koh	3
2	Hurricane	T Fitzsimmons	M Nunes	4

5	CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M
9	STAR VICTORY	J Peters	R Curatolo	1
	(5 br.a.g Vancouver - Kanyini by Commands)
2	Schneider	HW Tan	B Queiroz	2
5	Boss Heng Heng	D Kok	I Amirul	3
4	Two Million	R Lim	M Zaki	4

6	CLASS 4 - 1700M (POLYTRACK)
3	RODA ROBOT	J Ong	R Curatolo	1
	(4 b.nz.g Mongolian Khan - Piper by O'Reilly)
1	Mesmerizing	S Crutchley	M Zaki	2
8	Tennet Tentennet	L Khoo	T Krisna	3
7	Lion Spirit	CT Kuah	V Espindola	4

7	CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
3	SILVER DRAGON	J Ong	TH Koh	1
	(3 b.nz.g Time Test - Miss Cosimo by Giant's Causeway)
1	Pacific General	KS Tan	V Duric	2
2	Qaraat	T Mahadi	K Faiz	3
4	Golden Dash	R Le Grange	B Queiroz	4

8	CLASS 5 - 2000M
3	STAR EXPRESS	J Peters	R Woodworth	1
	(4 b.a.g Sebring - Don Ella by Don Eduardo)
1	Laksana	S Gray	V Duric	2
5	Navy Seals	KS Tan	N Zyrul	3
8	Tony's Love	R Le Grange	Jaden Lloyd	4

9	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)
9	PER INCROWN	J Ong	PH Seow	1
	(8 br.nz.g Per Incanto - Tick Tock Time by Savabeel)
11	May	J Ong	N Zyrul	2
6	City Gold Friend	D Kok	R Curatolo	3
3	King Zoustar	J Ong	M Nunes	4

10	KRANJI STAKES A (SW) - 1100M (POLYTRACK)
5	GHALIB	S Burridge	M Nunes	1
	(4 b.a.g I Am Invincible - Caveat by Elusive Quality)
4	Sacred Gift	J Tan	R Curatolo	2
9	Renzo	R Le Grange	B Queiroz	3
7	So Hi Class	J Ong	M Akmazani	4

11	CLASS 4 - 1400M
3	ENERGY BABY	J Tan	R Curatolo	1
	(5 gr.nz.g Rich Enuff - Miss Remington by Savoire Vivre)
1	King Of Sixty-One	T Fitzsimmons	Clyde Leck	2
9	Te Akau Ben	D Logan	V Espindola	3
7	Creative Dreams	T Fitzsimmons	M Nunes	4