Always Fast lives up to name in Kranji Sprint

SINGAPORE,  11 March 2007

Tried as he might, Singapore's top sprinter WHY BE could not give away 9kg in the handicap to all his rivals in the S$200,000 Kranji Sprint over 1200m here today.

Rated 19 points ahead of his nearest rival in the Singapore Group 3 event, the Success Express gelding had to shoulder 59kg in the Condition Weight event, while the rest of the field were handicapped at 50kg.

Still, WHY BE, who had won 17 of his previous 20 starts, set the pace and battled on gamely to finish third to ALWAYS FAST, last season's E W Barker Trophy winner who was racing after a short let-up.

The six-year-old Australian gelding by Scenic out of the Cheraw mare Speech Of Praise also turned the tables on LIM'S CLASSIC who defeated him into second spot in the Raffles Cup last October.

Meanwhile, Noel Callow booted home a home a double, following his single victory yesterday, to take over the lead in the jockey's table with 15 winners. The Melbourne jockey had only returned to Singapore this week to start a six-month stint.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 MAIDEN - 1600M

8

 Lion City Soldier D Murphy Saifudin

1

6

 Saturday Gold B Marsh A Calder

2

9

 Mazenze S Gray R Stewart

3

3

 D'Mighty Kop H K Tan Woodworth

4

2

 INITIATION - 1200M

1

 Amadeus Mozart P Shaw B Vorster

1

3

 Lucky Domino C Leck Chavez

2

2

 Titan Delight L Laxon R Fradd

3

5

 Green Star B Dean Saifudin

4

3

 CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1400M

14

 Happy Feelings C Leck Chavez

1

3

 Mandiri S Burridge K Fujii

2

12

 Winner Circle H K Tan Sam

3

1

 Hutton L Laxon K Sara

4

4

 CLASS 2 - 1600M

1

 Prince De Lago J Meagher N Callow

1

2

 Trigger Express S Burridge M Pumpa

2

6

 Mexborough Ladd S Gray R Stewart

3

5

 Royal City B Marsh H K Cheng

4

5

 KRANJI STAKES C - 1200M

10

 Guy Of Warwick L Laxon B Vorster

1

11

 Aces Pierre P Shaw Din Azis

2

9

 Sky Bet P Shaw M Gallagher

3

7

 Super Racer H K Tan Anandan

4

6

 CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1400M

14

 Magic Eight C Leck Chavez

1

4

 Thunder Heart B Marsh Soo

2

9

 Thirty Four Below Baertschiger S John

3

11

 Triple Wonder H Takaoka Din Azis

4

7

 CLASS 4 - 1400M

3

 No Time To Wait Baertschiger N Callow

1

5

 Coppola L Laxon A Calder

2

14

 Golden Sprint C Leck S Cheam

3

4

 Keegan S Gray Woodworth

4

8

 CLASS 4 - 1600M

7

 Barcelona Baertschiger Kellady

1

2

 Royal Crown B Marsh H K Cheng

2

14

 Sunshine Touch B Dean M Pumpa

3

13

 Rollin Rich B Marsh Chavez

4

9

 KRANJI SPRINT - 1200M

3

 Always Fast Baertschiger S John

1

2

 Lim's Classic J Meagher Saifudin

2

1

 Why Be L Laxon B Vorster

3

16

 Grant's Success M Clements M Gallagher

4

10

 GRADUATION - 1200M

9

 Guerilla J Meagher A Calder

1

5

 Superb Legend D Koh Soo

2

8

 Maxshine S Burridge M Pumpa

3

4

 King Of Honour S Gray R Stewart

4